Blog 2 - Getting lucky

For all the years I have taken wildlife photographs and exhibited them I am always asked these two questions:

• You must have a great camera?

• How do you find the birds to photograph?

My answers have always been -

Do I have a great camera? - it’s ok. It certainly isn’t the latest greatest model but it gives me a full image, a fast shutter speed and attaches to my lenses and securely writes the digital information onto the memory card. What I do have is the best lens I can afford to give me the sharpest images. I also study. It is one thing to have a camera that appears to do everything except make toast, but what’s the point if you can’t turn it on. Therefore, whenever I go out I always make sure I’m prepared as best I can be - batteries charged, lenses cleaned, memory cards formatted, and the settings on my camera are correct for the type of shots I expect. However, I have learnt through study, practise and many mistakes how to change settings quickly if needed. - If you want to know more let me know, I’d be happy to share my experience.

How do you find the birds to photograph? - As the golfer Gary Player say’s “the more I practise the luckier I get”, and the same goes for me. I’m always looking at and observing the natural world around me, and taking note of what I see and when. I then use various applications to let me know the weather, tides, wind direction for specific locations to give me the best chance of success. However, I know that life doesn’t always go to plan and a huge part of capturing wildlife images is patience, early mornings, multiple trips, a willingness to cope with discomfort (cramp, cold and heat) and a sense of humour. Especially when you sneeze just at the moment the bird you have been waiting for finally appears and leaves again because of the loud noise you have just made.

Why do I do it? - Because I love it. No more, no less.

I hope you’ll enjoy visiting my site as I share my wildlife journeys with you.