Equipment

My wildlife and landscape photographic equipment and techniques.

The Wildlight Hardware

Canon 5d - Sandisk extreme CF cards
Canon 30d (back up body)
Canon 17-40 L f4
Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5
Canon 100 macro f2.8
Canon 70 - 200 L f2.8 IS
Canon 100-400 L f5.6 IS
Canon 500mm L f4 IS
Canon 1.4x Teleconverter
25mm extension tube
Gitzo 1325 Carbon fibre tripod
Arca Swiss Ball-head
Wimberly side kick (Gimbal type head)
Selection of kirk QR plates
Remote release
Lee Filters - NDs and Polariser
Spirit Levels (double bubble)
All carried in a Lowepro Pro Trekker Bag

Capture One RAW converter
Photoshop
Dell Laptop
2TB (2000Gb) Hard drives
Colorvision Spyder (Screen colour calibration)
A large selection of field guides and reference books

I have used canon SLRs for many years now. I don’t think that they are necessarily any better than any other brand but I have grown accustomed to the layout of the camera bodies. Investing in lenses is not cheap either and so I will continue to use canon for the forseeable future.

The lenses allow the photographer to shape what is infront of the camera. Changing the perspective with wide angles or bring something much closer with long telephoto lenses. Trying to convey what is in front of me to the best of my abilities is what strives me to produce better photographs.

The tripod is very high on my list of essential equipment. The tripod holds the camera and heavier lenses rock steady allowing for sharp photographs. While photographing landscapes it slows down the process of taking the picture. That allows me more time to concentrate on what I am actually trying to achieve. It also means that composition can be very accurate and depth of field can be maximised.

I did, for years, use Fuji slide film but now I work exclusively with digital capture. I find most of the digital vs. film debate largely meaningless.
The thought process during composition, attention to detail and quality of light remains the same for either media. I tend to treat my digital camera no different to a film camera, but checking previews when the exposure is tricky is particularly useful.
Some things such as shifting the white balance instead of employing colour correction filters is an inherently digital bonus which I am very happy to take advantage of. The hassle of keeping film correctly and the huge processing fees is something I certainly do not miss!

I do use Photoshop to process my photographs but the work done is more related to “darkroom” processing than manipulation. Adjustments made to different areas of the photograph or making a composite of two or more captures allows better exposure compensation than just neutral grads can offer.

I try to approach the capture as meticulously as I would with film and keep the image as natural as possible while working in Photoshop.

Behind the Camera

Some of the shots are the result of serendipity, finding myself in the right place at the right time, while others are the end product of a lot of planning. Being out and exploring the local area is essential as is keeping eyes open to potential photographs.

Landscapes seem to be relatively unchanging but photographically do change dramatically over time with the seasons and even daily with the light. The quality of light can often dictate the final composition or indeed make or break a photograph completely. My landscape photography owes much to revisiting favourite places, walking and taking note of future possibilities.
Wildlife also needs plenty of planning but the subjects rarely perform just for the camera, although there was once a robin………Feed sites are particularly useful but stalking is far more fun! Above all getting to know the subject works best and requires a lot of observation in the field and talking to those more knowledgeable than myself.
On Safari requires some different skills from stalking wildlife in the UK. I couldn't have gotten anywhere near the number of good photographs without my partner Kate how has a knack for getting me into the right position. The attention to detail is, however, the same in any location.

I have no problems with well managed Zoos and they allow me to hone my photographic skills without disturbing endangered animals. Whipsnade Zoo is only 4 miles away and I have enjoyed many days photographing there. Whipsnade is one of the best zoos I have been to, the enclosures are generously sized and spread over a considerable area. It is relatively easy to produce good photographs without that obvious zoo feel.