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30-12-2006, 10:38 AM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 126
| | | Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
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.  |
30-12-2006, 10:48 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Coventry
Posts: 763
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi
Welcome to WAB, nice write up about yourself, look forward to reading some for your threads.
If you need any help just ask there is always someone on the site that can help
Mick
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If you must take something from the countryside, Take a picture |
30-12-2006, 10:52 AM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,166
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Welcome AZO (hope you don't mind me shortening your name). Come on in. You are indeed amongst friends who share your passion with the wildlife of these wonderful islands. A smashing introduction to yourself. They'll be someone who will love to talk about all your areas of interest.
So welcome aboard WAB. Enjoy the boards and join us on our wildlife voyage.
Julie ww
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
30-12-2006, 11:14 AM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,040
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi there. 
Welcome to the WAB
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Believe half of what you see
Believe nothing of what you hear |
30-12-2006, 12:52 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi, AZ1.
Pleased to meet you.
My best advise is practise walking quietly, but you presumeably already have that skill! 
Give my love to the Severn river.
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
30-12-2006, 01:09 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 126
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi BW
Thanks for you welcome. Yes, I can normally manage the creeping up bit although it's more like creaking up these days. In the past I have often baited a sett with dried fruit some days before hand which always seems to work a treat. However, I have access to a very large, old sett which is also very isolated. I would really like to be able to get some real close ups on video and DSLR. I have never used a hide before. In fact I have been amazed at just how much you can get away with when watching Badgers - I have had them literally running circles around me in broad daylight. However I am assuming from your nickname that you have a passion for Badgers. do you have any advice on how best to film/photgraph them? Are they sensitive to camera noise.
On another note, I used to have the Badger bible some years back by (I think) Ernest Neil. I have since lost the book. Has it been bettered or do I need to find another copy.
Many thanks |
30-12-2006, 01:28 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,898
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hello AZO and a very warm welcome to WAB. Enjoy!
John |
30-12-2006, 01:39 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 3,034
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi AZ1. |
30-12-2006, 01:50 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 126
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi FungiJohn
Thanks for your welcome. I have admit that I groaned a little when I saw your nickname. It's just that it took me back to just over two years ago when I first brought my first DSLR. The VERY first photograph that I took was of some toadstools (no idea of species) in the local woods. I got right down there amongst them to get up dirty and close. I used the natural daylight and focused on a small cluster that was complete with a brown slug crawling on them. I have to say that the resulting photographs were beautiful, even if I do say so myself and I was very proud; (I did note that my wife didn't seem to share the same opinion).
I downloaded the photos to my PC and formated the DSLR card. Just three days ago, I decided to organise my growing collection of photographs on my PCs. You can perhaps imagine the horror when, on looking for these photgraphs, I couldn't find them anywhere. Then I realised that I had reformated the harddrive months ago and with it, any chance of recovering my toadstool photographs. Moral of the story? Always listen to the advise that you give to others about the need to backup digital photographs. Sick as a parrot doesn't come anywhere near it! But thank you for your welcome! |
30-12-2006, 02:34 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 11,463
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Welcome to WAB AZO, It looks like this abbreviation is going to stick! Your area sounds ideal, a fabulous part of the Country that I've still to visit. Enjoy your time here, I look forward to seeing some of your images provided you've not formatted your disk again.  |
30-12-2006, 09:10 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,498
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi, AZ1,
I am sorry if my name gives the promise of great knowledge! I have recently bought and moved into a house, with a very large garden, which unbeknowned to me, was populated, among many other creatures, by a thriving colony of Badgers, which we became aware of within a couple of weeks of moving in. I had never had any experience of Badgers prior to this, but I'm learning fast.
In my very limited experience, they look only mildly offended by a flash gun, but don't like the camera noise much. From other people I have been speaking to, it seems to be a case of getting them used to your smell and your presence, and I'm told they like peanut butter sandwiches! I give mine peanuts, apples, pears, wholemeal toast, sultanas, and freerange eggs, and any other fruit that I have left over.
The Ernest Neil book seems to still be THE book!
I've not tried my new video camera on them yet, I thought I'd give them time, and wait for spring!
__________________
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
30-12-2006, 09:20 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,438
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hello AZO
A warm welcome to WAB from me too. You have provided a great introduction to yourself. Enjoy the website and the company of fellow wildlife enthusiasts here.
Richard |
31-12-2006, 10:43 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 27
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Welcome AZO.
I spent some time at Symonds Yat in 2004, a beautiful place indeed. We did the full day canoe, my hands didn't half suffer.
Mick |
31-12-2006, 10:58 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 3,564
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Welcome aboard AZO, look forward to seeing some of your images and posts. |
31-12-2006, 11:14 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hello AZO, Welcome to WAB. I hope you continue to enjoy this wonderful place
jaki
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too many books... not enough money!!!!!!!!!! |
01-01-2007, 12:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perthshire, Scotland
Posts: 1,055
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi AZO, welcome to WAB!
__________________
Fergus
www.scottishnaturephotography.com |
01-01-2007, 07:52 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sandy, Bedfordshire
Posts: 27
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi A Z 1
I'm new here but from the welcome I've been given I'm sure you'll be just as chuffed to have found this site
Happy 2007 |
02-01-2007, 12:13 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West of England (We don't get an Image Gallery)
Posts: 36
| | | Re: Hello from me - where have you been all my life!
Hi and welcome.
I'm ex forces as well, mind you I couldn't take any more than six years. I admire your resilience. Worcestershire is almost as beautiful as Gloucestershire  | | |
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