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.

A state of emergency....

January 7 2010

...is what many people think should be declared. No, not the emergency that is the unprecedented loss of natural species; not the emergency of global climate change and the lack of political will to address it; not even the state of emergency surrounding the capercaillie, Britain's fastest declining bird. No, this is an emergency the like of which society has never before witnessed. It is apparent that lots of very important people with very important jobs and very important children - and some with very important holidays to go on - are being inconvenienced by the unusually inclement weather. These very important people are demanding action, emergency action.

Whilst listening to these tales of woe on the very important radio, I noticed a magazine lying on our kitchen table - a legacy from the family Christmas visit. The title read: 'REAL LIFE, 100% TRUE.' The first story inside lead with: 'Decapitated body found in street wheelie bin.' Real life and a real emergency...and I don't mean the body.

Capercaillie? Not a chance.

October 8 2009

I'm often asked about the chances of a 'caper' sighting in the forests close to home and although, I can never say never, the truthful answer is in fact, never. Until today.
I've been down in sunny Edinburgh at a meeting but back home, my wife and son were confronted by a strutting male right outside the house! It sat for an hour on a nearby wood pile before circumnavigating my campervan and then flying off. OK then...almost never.

An insurance plan.

June 14 2009

Capercaillie are an absolute must for a project wishing to celebrate the best of European nature. With this in mind, Wild Wonders of Europe commissioned three photographers to try and capture images of this icon of the pine forest. I was one of them. The full blog from my mission with a few more images will shortly be available at www.wild-wonders.com.