Whilst out in the field, a lot of people have asked me the same question "How long have you been interested in birds?". The honest answer is I don't know but the earliest recollection of being a birdwatcher was at the age of 8 when I recognised a kingfisher by its call on a river whilst on a primary school  trip. I must have been interested before this but I have no memories before that.  Since then, my knowledge and passion for birds and other wildlife has constantly expanded and has grown into more than a very keen hobby.  Through this interest, I have managed to see different species of birds in places such as New England (USA), Kenya, Poland, Spain and Portugal.

Having a passion for all wildlife, I started taking photographs of what I was seeing.  I bought my first camera when I was about 17; a Minolta Dynax 800si body and a Sigma 170-500mm lens.  Although looking back at the photos now, recognising the blob in the middle of a photo must surely be a bird, it has stood me in good stead for what a photo should look like.  Seeing that this equipment was not getting me close enough (well, my lack of experience more like) I joined the digiscoping craze in 2001 and bought a Nikon Coolpix 4500.  Although the results were better and closer, I still wasn't impressed with the quality of the photos.  It was when I finished my Geography degree in 2004 that I decided to treat myself to a Canon 20D and a Canon 100-400mm L IS lens. With this new equipment and gained knowledge, I got the photography itch.  Since then I have taken photographs of all that is around me, whether it be  of birds, other wildlife, insects or a moody landscape. 

With hints and tips from other photographers and lots of research from books and websites, I feel my photography is constantly getting better.  Going to the Scilly Isles for the first time in October 2005 enhanced this.  I wanted to make the most of this trip so hired a 600mm F4 IS lens.  Little did I know how sharp this lens was and proved very useful in photographing most of the Scilly rarities. From then I wanted a big white lens for my own, so in March 2006 I purchased a 500mm F4 IS lens and have never looked back since. 

I now look forward to what every day brings! 

Client list:

Birdwatch magazine
Birdwatching magazine
Birding World journal
British Birds journal
Birding North West magazine
The Grebe (The Wildlife Trusts Cheshire magazine)
Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding National Beauty
Usborne Books
Malvern Hills Conservators (I have been commissioned to take photographs for the Malvern Hills Conservators Management Plan)
Worcestershire Bat Group

Equipment List:

Canon eos 20D
Canon 500mm f4 L IS
Canon 100mm f2.8
Canon speedlite 550ex
Canon 1.4x tele-converter
Canon 25mm extension tube