LOCAL EXPERT NATURE SHOOTER is here!

Local Expert Nature Shooter is launching today.

So what is local expert nature shooter? (LENS) I have always been a champion for getting out into your local area to shoot the wildlife that is often hidden around us. As wildlife photographers we often get caught up with chasing around after wildlife, often travelling hundreds of miles in the process.

LENS was born out of the idea that as a wildlife photographer you should be the expert in the local area around where you live. I have produced a number of Youtube videos recently where i have championed the value of individuals becoming there local expert. This has many benefits and is particularly useful for anyone starting out in wildlife photography, so let me explain!

Muntjac deer

Taken Approx 2 miles from home.

Walking out of your back door with your camera equipment means you are instantly at your location, even if you live in a town or city there will be green spaces near you where wildlife makes a home and can be seen at certain times of the day. You can walk that area every day, for me that is the early morning three mile dog walk! My dog walk every morning is a recce, what am I seeing where, why is it there? Have I seen it there before and will it be there tomorrow or is it likely to move elsewhere in my patch? I am getting this information every day I am improving my observation skills, my evaluation of tracks and signs. I can then revisit these areas with the camera and take some shots. Perhaps most important are the twin benefits of cost and time. Getting in the car and travelling hundreds of miles, maybe staying in a hotel or cottage is a big cost particularly in these days. But perhaps more important is time. The time you gain by being on site instantly can’t really be measured other than in your improvement as a wildlife photographer. But getting to know my local area doesn’t stop there. These skills I develop transfer over to visiting new areas and all go to help me become a better wildlife photographer.

roe deer

Approx 400m from home

My first official LENS video will be out shortly and you won’t believe the distance I travelled from my studio to get some awesome images! We have also developed some merch if you too want to join the movement and become your Local Expert Nature Shooter, just head over to the merch section on this website. Anyway I hope you enjoy the videos and identify with the process. I will go into more depth in the first Youtube video so keep your eyes open for that. See you soon!

Unleash Your Wildlife Photography Potential With The Sony A6400

After upgrading to the Sony A7r3 nearly two years ago I had only used my Sony A6400 as a backup camera and for filming Youtube videos. In this video I take the A6400 out for a day to see if can still perform as a top notch wildlife photography camera in 2023. Now over four years old does this camera provide a perfect lower cost option for the beginner wanting a high specification camera that won't break the bank.

Unlocking the Secrets of Wildlife Photography: Is the Journey Just as Important?

This week I head back up to Aberdeenshire in search of the elusive Pine Martin. This is hard work, with many hours of thought, research and hours in the field. But does it have to be this way? Yes there are shortcuts available but if you take them are you missing out as a wildlife photographer?

Check Out THIS Wildlife on My Trip to Snipe Dales!

Another very short trip away but I still managed to find a couple of hours to visit a new nature reserve for me in Lincolnshire. Snipe Dales turned out to be a very busy and productive couple of hours and certainly one I will be returning to soon. Check out the video to see what I find. As always LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to the channel! See you soon for another one!

Watch My Little Owls Return After a Year-Long Disappearance!

he little owl is in decline in the UK and last year I found my last remaining site that had always been reliable for little owls empty. This year I decided to head back early in the season hoping that the owls where back. I was hoping that this site if active will provide me with a good location to photograph the owls as we move through the spring and early summer. Find out how I got on in this video.

How to Plan for the Perfect Wildlife Photo!

When you want to take your wildlife photography to the next level you soon find that a hit and hope approach very rarely works. Sue there are occasions when you are just in the right place at the right time but this is rare. Usually the perfect image is proceeded by hours of preperation work to ensure you give yourself the best chance of grabbing that shot. In this video I am again up in Aberdeenshire for a short four day visit and instead of employing a lets just head out and see what happens I chose to scout out a location for a later visit. Strangely I don't get what I expected but potentially the chance of something much better.