I’m delighted to announce that I will be one of the speakers at the North West Birdwatching Festival at WWT Martin Mere alongside the BBC’s George McGavin author Leif Bersweden and Miranda Krestovnikoff. This wonderful event takes place over two days and will be held at a place I know very well, WWT Wetland Center, Martin Mere.
I will be presenting on both days, each session I will present my “Dawn till Dusk” talk. Taking you through what skills I use within my own wildlife photography, all broken down into four very easy to understand steps, followed by a beautiful slideshow talking you from dawn until dusk. We then head out to the nearby grounds to put this into practice. The aim of the presentation is to help you in your own photography while inspiring you at the same time.
Also if your coming to this event then you can also join me later with your camera at the floodlight Swan event. Witness one of the world’s true nature spectacles in the cosy comfort of the Raines Observatory. The reserve team will tell you all about the thousands of wild whooper swans that gather on the mere every night to feed. Using the available light creativity come and capture this event alongside myself between 5pm-6pm.
Many years ago I attended this festival and gave a talk while having a small exhibition of my work there, I was also a regional judge of the WWT photography competition. My first trip there was when I’d just joined high school, there was a birdwatching club run by one of the teachers. At the time I was a member of the YOC- Young Ornithologists Club which I loved. WWT Martin Mere was one of the first of many school trips I had and I have fond memories of that day.
I did a personal project on the Whooper Swans at WWT Martin Mere back in October 2009. WWT Martin Mere is a real stronghold for them and you can read about the project here. I’d just turned professional back then so the spelling and grammar wasn’t the best but you’ll understand my love for these stunning winter visitors.
The WWT Wetland Centers also do alot of conservation work while inspiring and encouraging many children and adults to get involved with nature in some way. I’ve visited many of the centers around the UK, WWT Caerlaverock is another favourite place of mine and a great place to see Barnacle Geese, another of our stunning winter visitors.
Histrionically though have alot of history and wonderful memories of WWT Martin Mere and it will be lovely to return to a place I know well. There are lots of brilliant exhibitors, talks and activities over those two days, for the full listings of these please see this link. Too book a place on my workshop then please click here.
WWT Martin Mere was a big part of my growing up, it helped me so much as a 12 year old just joining high school and looking after my mum at the time who had breast cancer. My talk is free, my advice is free it’s my way of giving back to a place that gave so much to me. Hope to see some of you there, many thanks.