Individual or species?

August 29 2010

This month's Outdoor Photography magazine carries an interesting piece by Peter Moonlight on the number of photographers now visiting the Donna Nook grey seal colony in Lincolnshire - anecdotal evidence suggests upwards of 200 on a busy day. The site is managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and they are increasingly concerned about the impact of irresponsible photographers on pup abandonment.

So how do we define 'irresponsible'? Every photographer I know that's been to Donna Nook blames someone else and claims that their finely honed fieldcraft or professional status exempts them from being 'irresponsible'. But if we define the term by the causing of disturbance - no matter how insignificant- then every photographer who visits, is 'irresponsible' whether they're prepared to admit it or not. For the record, I am one of those implicated.

The 'problem' is not unique to Lincolnshire's seals. Wherever there is an opportunity to get close to wildlife, it's inevitable that a photographer/filmmaker will take that opportunity. The images find their way into the public domain and more photographers visit. Their images get seen and so on and so on. But I'm not sure we can have it both ways.

Even at a political level there is a mandate to encourage public engagement with nature. Those responsible for fulfilling that task often rely on imagery as a catalyst to cajole that engagement. That is exactly what has happened at Donna Nook - with tens of thousands of people now visiting the main seal colony each year; it's a PR success story.

The irony of course is that the UK grey seal population has increased dramatically in recent decades - not because of over-zealous photographers but certainly in spite of them. Ditto Bass Rock's gannets and Wales' red kites.

I'm not condoning irresponsible photographers and for what it's worth, I won't be visiting Donna Nook until management changes, but we can't expect to celebrate Britain's wildlife through the medium of imagery and then reel at the consequences.

John Muir Trust

June 23 2010

Northshots has become a corporate supporter of the John Muir Trust. JMT is the leading wild land conservation charity in the UK. Inspired by the work, spirit and legacy of John Muir, the Trust owns and manages some of Scotland's wildest areas, as well as campaigning for the conservation of wild land and wild places throughout the country.

One of the Trust's most impressive achievements is the John Muir Award which encourages awareness and responsibility for nature in young people. 100,000 awards have been given out to date.

www.jmt.org

NEW FRONTIERS

April 23 2010

There are still a few tickets available for the NEW FRONTIERS show at Aviemore Hilton Coylumbridge Hotel on Sat. May 8th. This presentation is part of the John Muir Trust AGM and is their annual 'Spririt of the Wild' lecture, but is available to anyone so do pop along and say hello!

Bookings at: http://www.jmt.org/gathering10.asp#Spirit%20of%20the%20Wild%20Places%20Lecture

The most precious of assets

February 11 2010

For the last few days, a young and aspiring nature photographer joined our Winter Wildlife photo-tour to 'see how it was done.' I'm not sure he achieved that, but many of the group remarked on his ability to effectively interact and engage with people.

Once guests had left this morning, I high-tailed down to Pitlochry, met with colleague Niall Benvie and we jointly met with the CEO of the John Muir Trust to discuss how we might enliven their strategic vision in the form of a full colour brochure.

Both experiences underline the importance of relationships. It is solidly-based relationships that nurture personal trust and at a business level, integrity. These relationships - with photo-tour guests, with colleagues and with individuals within the scientific and conservation sectors - are my most precious of assets. They take years to form and develop and there are no shortcuts.

Imagine then my sensitivity to these relationships being threatened. A few years ago, one such relationship (with a forester) lead me to a wonderful site where I have photographed a 'rogue' capercaillie - some of the images have been posted on this blog. In recent weeks, I've been made aware of certain photographers trying to establish where this site is - none of them have approached me directly, but have contacted friends and colleagues behind my back. I'm precious about this site - not only because of the sensitivity of the bird, but because of the erosion of the trust placed in me by my forester friend.

So a plea: respect my relationship with and within my local and professional community. If you want to know where the site is, ask me - don't embarrass others. If I trust you, I might help you.

Help the heroes!

January 25 2010

There are some people that just get on with it; they make things happen. Philip and Myrtle Ashmole are perhaps not names known to a mainstream audience, yet they are heroes, pioneers, beacons of hope in a world dogged by pessimism. The couple, along with a small team of dedicated enthusiasts, have, over just a decade or so, restored from scratch an extensive native woodland in the Scottish borders. Not just a few trees mind, no, this is a big forest, a wild forest, a forest that shows what can be achieved given the will.

Please buy this book and read their inspiring story and when you've read it, join the Borders Forest Trust at: www.bordersforesttrust.org

Spirit of Wild Places.

January 12 2010

I'm pleased to be delivering The Spirit of Wild Places lecture at the John Muir Trust AGM on Sat. 8th May in Aviemore (conveniently). The show, NEW FRONTIERS, will include early coverage of the wildlife found close to home followed by a journey - both physical and spiritual - of how my photography - but more importantly my perspective - has changed during the last decade or so.

Non JMT members are welcome. Bookings can be made online at www.jmt.org

Tricky question.

December 8 2009

Thanks to all those who turned out last evening for the Anagach Trust AGM and my talk afterwards. At the end of the evening I was asked a tricky question: Which one law would I pass to ensure greater wildlife protection? To be honest I fudged it. Not because I had no opinion but because I'm not convinced that a longer term co-existence with wildlife - especially the more 'difficult' species - can be legislated for.
In my answer I opted for the word 'tolerance' - towards other species but also towards other members of our own species. Can anyone legislate for tolerance? No. But we can all work towards it. Oh... and a magic wand would come in handy.

Is Alladale a good idea?

September 1 2009

I spent yesterday afternoon in the company of Paul Lister, owner of Alladale Wilderness Reserve in northern Scotland and subject of much media attention over his plans to create a fenced eco-reserve complete with extinct native species. Critics contest that Alladale is nothing more than a glorified safari park for Lister's affluent peers whilst supporters understand that there is much more to his plans than headline-grabbing wolves and bears.
Irrespective of your own view, it cannot be denied that discussions over the rights and wrongs of Alladale's objectives have broadened perspectives of what the Highlands might look like 100 years from now. Indeed what the Highlands might need to look like if they are to survive from a social as well as ecological perspective.
Not that the media will be interested, but Lister's charity, the European Nature Trust, has just thrown £50k at riparian woodland restoration to improve conditions for salmonid fish.