Who judges your images?

February 22 2010

A casual conversation with a workshop guest over the weekend reminded me of the shackles that many nature photographers place upon themselves. Myself and co-guide Nigel Atkinson, worked hard at engineering a few images that might just put a different slant on what is considered 'conventional' - the two images below are examples of the result. After the shoot, our guest (sorry Barry I'm not singling you out) remarked 'nice to have but the judges would laugh at that'. By 'the judges', he was referring to those who govern, or perhaps limit, the creativity of photographers who enter competitions on the camera club circuit. I suggested to Barry that his photography might be more fulfilling if he was to judge his own images. I'm not sure he was convinced.

Thanks to a splendid group over the weekend - I hoped you enjoyed the sun and snow...and the 15c below!

Integrity my backside.

February 2 2010

Thank you to all who have alerted me to another photographer's blog which contains indirect inferences to me deliberately misleading a set of workshop guests attending a captive 'HIGHLAND RAPTOR' shoot last winter. Now, I'm really, really not going to get involved in petty playground politics (so please don't expect any further postings on this), but in this case - for the benefit of those guests in question - I will set the record straight.

The itineraries for our workshops are set over a year in advance and the target subjects are exactly that - targets. They are subject to a range of factors that can influence their availability which is why we reserve the (contractual) right to change them. Last winter we were forced to find a new falconer and hence, the range of birds that were available, changed too. We replaced the 'missing' birds with others and the workshop took place to the same standard we have maintained for over 10 years.

To intimate that this represents a question mark over my integrity as a tour provider, is unfounded and deeply resented. Those readers who have attended our many workshops over the years can accuse me of many things (and often do!) but a lack of integrity is surely not one of them.

A (captive) golden eagle from today's WINTER WILDLIFE tour...

A red letter day clouded in blue.

November 12 2009

For what seems like years, I've been proposing to various Highland estates that a winter eagle feeding facility - to compete with those well established in mainland Europe - would be a serious commercial attraction to photographers. Yesterday at Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Sutherland, the site was finally chosen! I'll keep you abreast of developments.

On returning to the Cairngorms as the light faded, a wonderful cool blue hue hung over Abernethy Forest...

Raptor places.

October 14 2009

I am reminded by our photo-tour department, aka Amanda my wife, that we still have a few places on two of our Highland Raptor workshops early next year. Timed to coincide with maximum potential for dramatic weather (you'll get this but it might not be in the form of snow!), we like to think these workshops are still the best of their kind offering unparalleled opportunities.

Dates are 19-22 Feb; 19-22 March. See photo-tour pages for fuller details

Golden eagle poisoned

August 1 2009

Yet again a golden eagle has been found poisoned on a Highland Estate. But this is not just any eagle, this is a bird (christened Alma) that has been followed by thousands of people for two years via its satellite transmitter. Alma's death comes as a blow to the game shooting industry, already at pains to dispel association with illegal persecution. Apart from the obvious implications to eagle conservation in Scotland, this inevitably undermines efforts towards a more collaborative approach to wildlife management.
I normally try to adopt a balanced pragmatic view of such issues, recognising and respecting cultural divides, but this has sickened even me to the core and is all the more poignant as Alma was born only a few miles from my home.

More at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/30/conservation-scotland