photographing
Workshops and Tours for 2012
A whole host of new and exciting wildlife and landscape photography workshops and tours can now be found on my website here.
I’ll be replicating some that were very popular last year including the Bluebell Photography Walk, Heathland Sunrise and Kent’s Wildlfowers as well as amending the Lady Orchid workshop to make it a half-day instead of a full day which, as the Walks have proved, are both easier on the commitment (just 3 hours instead of 6) and pocket! 
Tours new for this year include Northern Gold – Lapland in Autumn, Bison of Bialowieza- Poland in Winter, Prague and South Bohemia in Autumn and Dark Peak Landscapes – Peak District in Autumn. Below is a brief description of each and the link to take you straight to that page. The lapland tour already has bookings and the Bison tour is proving particularly popular with the first of two dates in 2013 already fully booked. I’ll be leading a tour there in just three weeks and cannot wait to go back there! Thermals at the ready
Lapland in autumn
I have visited Finland 6 times now and in autumn twice and I have to say, this is my favourite time of the year here. The colours are just spectacular with the yellow of birch and aspen and vibrant red of northern bilberry. And, if this wasn’t enough to whet your appetite how does photographing the northern lights sound?! 2012 is The Year of the Northern Lights and should we have clear skies, there is a 50/50 chance of witnessing them and, of course, photographing them!
To find out more about this tour, click here.
Just 2 places remaining!
European Bison in Bialowieza forest, Eastern Poland.
Those of you that follow my blog may, or may not recall, the piece I wrote about my trip some years ago to photograph Europe’s largest mammal, the Bison or Wisent, in the primeval forests of Bialowieza. Well, in partnership with acclaimed Polish nature photographer Marek Kosinski, I shall be leading a 6 day photography tour to this amazing place with Marek as our guide. There is simply no-one better to guide us. Marek, who lives in Bialowieza itself, has been published worldwide, and received many honours.
To find out more about this tour, click here.
West Towers on Charles Bridge, Prague.
Over a period of 5 years, I visited Prague on no fewer than 50 occasions and several to Cesky Krumlov in South Bohemia, photographing for my agents and my own library, as well as providing articles for magazines, one of which was featured in Outdoor Photography. As a result, I know these two places extremely well and would hazard a guess there are few photographers more qualified to personally escort you around to photograph ‘The Golden City’ and the equally beautiful Cesky Krumlov.
To find out more about this tour, click here.
Peak District in Autumn
Over the last few years the Peak District has become my favourite location for landscape photography in the UK. Indeed, as a result of those images I took on my first visit, I had an article published in Outdoor Photography magazine and subsequently held 5 workshops to this region, such has been its impact.
The reason I am doing this workshop during the week and not a weekend is that some of the places we will be visiting are very popular. By holding it mid-week, we will have The Peaks to ourselves!
To find out more about this tour, click here.
I look forward to welcoming some of you along on either the workshops or tours and if you prefer to talk to me in person regarding these, do feel free to drop me a line on 07939 117570.
Stories
The first ‘story’ of an new addition to my website has just been completed. It’s about my favourite bird, the Lapwing or Peewit. Possibly, the greatest breeding population in the UK resides just a stone’s throw from where I live, which, over the last 10 years, has afforded me the opportunity of recording their life history. The story section differs from my ‘collections’ in that they tell a story (no surprise there then!) with extended captions. Click here to go straight there. More stories will follow which I will let you know about as and when they are added.
Males defending their territories at sunrise. Nikon D300, 300mm f2.8, 1/1250th sec. f5.6, iso 200.
Female incubating. Hatching occurs after approximately 28 days which gave me sufficient time to 'very' gradually introduce a dummy camera housing. This was introduced over a 2 week period starting from a point, 50m away from the nest then moved forward, at intervals. It was then replaced with a sound-proof housing containing a Nikon D300 and 12-24mm lens. The camera was fired via radio remote from my car, 100m away.
Four-legged lapwing!
Seals at Donna Nook
Those of you that have been following this blog for a while (and I thank you for that) may recall a series of images I took last autumn of a grey seal colony in Norfolk and my thoughts on the growing problem of photographers at Donna Nook. Well, it’s almost that time of year again when hundreds, nay thousands of photographers descend on the colony at Donna Nook to get pretty much the same images as thousands before them.
Taken at Donna Nook back in 1992. Nikon F3, 500mm f4P, Kodachrome 64.
In my entry close to 10 months ago, I told how I visited DN (for the first and last time) back in 1992 when hardly anyone, pro’s and amateurs alike, knew it even existed. Indeed, it was only because I had an interest in these creatures and through snail-mail communication to wardens and the like, that I eventually spent 3 days there. And guess what? I was the only one with a telephoto lens! I saw 3 others all day with point and push cameras who were locals and just enjoying the experience. So why am I rattling on about it again? In the latest (October) edition of Outdoor Photography, Peter Moonlight writes a very interesting piece on the impact on seal pups that the photographer’s are making. It’s a sobering thought many who consider themselves nature photographers would put a picture before the well being of the animal. I accept that the draw to be close to and photograph wild animals is strong but perhaps more willpower should now be exercised if we are to let this colony thrive. What the answer is I do not know. Close off the beach completely? Can’t see that working. Have small groups led across the beach by a warden….for a fee? For photographer’s to stop leading groups for profit to the beach colony? These seem to be growing as each year passes. One thing is for certain. This debate is sure to continue for some years to come.
Norfolk colony, taken last year.
If anyone has any thoughts on this issue, I would welcome your comments.
Autumn beckons
Hay bales, Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
For the last few days there has definitely been a whiff of autumn in the air. Nights are now noticeably drawing in and once the sun sets, temperatures fall quite rapidly. I spent yesterday aftenonn in my marsh hide and when I exited I couldn’t believe how cold it was. Straight on with the fleece! We have had a good summer here in the south. July and August has been very good indeed and as I write this it’s 22 degrees outside. But, I have to say, I am not a great lover of the hot days of summer, unless I’m laying on the beach with a cold bear in my hand! I’m really looking forward to autumn now with all it brings…photographing fungi, rutting deer, morning mists and the influx of wetland birds. Plus, getting up for sunrise ain’t half as difficult.
Dewy web
On the downside, just like spring, it’s all over too quickly so I’m determined to make the most of it, whatever the weather.
About Robert Canis
Robert Canis is a professional photographer specialising in the natural world.
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