I’ve just returned from Wex Photo Video London HQ, I’d been invited there to give my “Conservation with a Camera”talk. From the moment I first picked up a camera I’ve always wanted to show the beauty of nature and also the not so beautiful things we as humans do to nature and are responsible for. By using my own life experiences, skills and my background I show how my camera speaks for those that cannot speak for themselves.
I’m delighted to announce that I will be one of the speakers at the North West Birdwatching Festival at WWT Martin Mere alongside the BBC’s George McGavin author Leif Bersweden and Miranda Krestovnikoff. This wonderful event takes place over two days and will be held at a place I know very well, WWT Wetland Center, Martin Mere.
In October’s issue of Professional Imagermaker I have an article published on light, more so side and back lighting within wildlife photography. I’ve broken down this subject in a way that is very easy to understand. Those that know me no I don’t obsess with the technical side of photography. Instead I use my own flare and passion, then I ask the camera to “write” or capture what I see. I work with very simple settings, and use them alongside my camera to express and communicate what I’m seeing and watching on the ground at that time.
There a few places in the UK where you can experience the sights and sounds of nature any better than the North Norfolk coast during the Spring Tides that start in earnest from this month onward and for me herald the onset of the Autumn and Winter months. As the incoming tides submerge the whole area it pushes thousands of waders closer to the shoreline.
Mr Karmenu Vella, the European Commissioner for the Environment recently met members of Luonto-Liiton susiryhmä Humane Society International and Eurogroup for Animals organisations I help and support with my photography. The Commissioner has said he is committed to protecting large carnivores; Wolves, Brown Bears, Wolverine, Lynx in Europe and to keep their protection status in all Member States.
One project I’ve been working on recently is Pied Flycatchers in the Peak District National Park. These birds are so beautiful and visit our shores during the spring and summer months from their wintering home of West Africa and live manly in woodland habitat. Their numbers are quite low and they are on the “amber” list of species by the RSPB meaning they aren’t rare but not common too.
On March 7th 2018, Humane Society International/Europe, Luonto-Liiton susiryhmä and Eurogroup for Animals organised an event at the European Parliament to discuss the various possible solutions and strategies that member states have at their disposal to achieve long term coexistence with large carnivores for the benefit of people and wildlife conservation.
In March’s issue of the BBC Wildlife magazine I have one of my favourite photographs featured as part of their “Inside the image” article. The image was taken on my two week trip to the Falkland Islands last year. In the article I go through camera settings, my vision and thought process to help the readers to understand what was behind the image.
