Hello from me - where have you been all my life!

[AlphaZeroOne]

Hi everyone. Now this is a pleasant surprise. I have been interested in natural history for more years that I care to recall: birds, wild flowers, insects & butterflies, mammals, photography, ecology genetics, macro photography, the list goes on. But I have rarely been able to share this interest with anyone in the past. So I am delighted to have 'stumbled' over this site which seems to attract so many like minded people. I am looking forward to being able to exchange comments, ideas and experiences in the various forums.

A little about me - not much to say. Exforces (24 years), been 'normal' now for some 12 years. I was involved in a fair bit of nature conservation work in Pembrokeshire, Gloustershire and the Shetland but now sadly this has had to give way to a demanding worklife.

I have a passion for computing and wildlife digital photography and my New Year resolution is to to try to attempt to achieve a worklife balance and get back to the study of nature that had been my passion since I was first awarded the Observers Book of Birds at school. But I am simply a well informed amateur and I really would like to start to seriously develop my skills of wildlife photography across the whole field of natural history. However, I feel that I am starting from scratch but I am determined that 2007 will be the start of something new and exciting.

I live in the beautiful county of Worcestershire and so have access to some stunning areas of natural beauty such as the Wyre Forest, the River Severn (canoeing is another passion of mine; a fanstastic way to watch birds).

Enough of me - I will now spend the rest of the day reading the various threads in the forums with a hope that I may be able to add something to the discussions. I would appreciate any thoughts on how I can best develop the skills and techniques for wildlife photography. I am even considering putting my former 'bush skills' to use again and attempt to photograph wild deer and badgers this year. I am luck enough to have access to a young natural wood which I would love to be able to develop into a nature reserve. Again, any thoughts and suggestions would be welcome.