Chair

Prior to retirement in 2020 I was a solicitor in private practice. Retirement has allowed me the time to indulge in my love of the natural world, there is very little to compare with the joy of being outside early in the morning.

Like many others, my first camera was a Kodak Instamatic: a much prized birthday present in my early teens.  Over time I moved on to a borrowed Olympus Trip and eventually acquired my first DSLR in 1990. I've been shooting with a variety of Nikon digital cameras since the introduction of the D100.  Nowadays, I'm using Nikon's mirrorless Z system cameras.

I joined the RPS in 2021, achieving my LRPS later that year. My ARPS in Natural History was gained in 2023 and focused on the birdlife of the Avalon Marshes in Somerset.  I am interested in wildlife in all of its forms, but I am particularly drawn to things that fly.

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Secretary

After taking photographs for most of my life, I took up Nature Photography seriously in 2011.  I have travelled widely photographing wildlife including to the Arctic, Antarctic, Alaska, Japan and many parts of Africa.  But I get every bit as much pleasure in photographing plants and insects in the Nature Reserves near to where I live.

I joined the Nature Group in 2014 and became Secretary in 2017.  With a background in Engineering and Technology, I am very interested in the technology of taking images.  I’ve spent much time studying focus stacking and extreme macro plus trying Ultraviolet and Infra Red photography.  Digital technology enables us to capture the nature and science of the world better than ever before – and it is getting better all the time!

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Treasurer

My photography journey began with an Olympus OM 10 in my early twenties.  I was lucky enough to get free entrance tickets to motor racing events through work so spent most weekend photographing racing cars.  This was obviously with film and most were out of focus or I completely missed the car.  However, I stuck at it and through trial and error I slowly improved.

I then started a family and career which put a hold on this hobby.  I restarted back in 2009 when I purchased a Nikon D90.  Nowadays I like photographing nature and landscapes and as I live near Ashbourne, the gateway to the Peak District, I have plenty of opportunities.  Recently, with the lock down keeping us all at home I set up my garden to capture small birds in flight which was very rewarding and just shows us that we don't have to travel vast distances to photograph nature.

Exhibition Secretary

I have been fascinated by nature and photography since my childhood years in Portugal. I started my photography journey in the days of film, when I used to borrow my father's trusty Nikon FG-20.

Having joined local clubs in 2015, I was introduced to the world of natural history photography by two very talented and generous photographers. I have since been interested in the world of insects and closeup photography. I am an active researcher in bioscience, and only wish I could dedicate more time to my hobby!

I joined the RPS in 2019, having achieved an LRPS the same year. Later in 2021, I gained an ARPS in Natural History with a panel focusing on the Hidden World of my Local Insects. I have also received a Credit (2022) and a Distinction (2023) from the PAGB, having served as one of their judges. More recently (2026), I received a BPE1 Crown Award.

Programme Co-ordinator

I have been an active photographer since my early teens when I undertook to photograph all the British Wildflowers – something I have not yet completed!!  I had a career in scientific research and publishing more at the cellular than whole organism scale, but continued nature photography as a major hobby branching out from my original interests to include insects and birds.  Since retiring, surveying and recording at local Nature Reserves and in my garden have been added to my passions.

I joined the RPS in 2006 and achieved both an ARPS in Nature and an FRPS in Visual Arts the same year.  I have been a member of the Nature Group for several years during which time I have lead many outings and gained a reputation for guaranteeing that it will more than likely rain on my trips!!

I joined the Committee two years ago taking on the role of Programme Co-ordinator.

Web Administrator

I joined the Royal Photographic Society in 1998, gaining my LRPS distinction in 2000 with a panel of monochrome darkroom prints. In 2008 I gained my ARPS in Visual Art, this time with a panel of (far more colourful) digital prints. 

I have always been an active member of the RPS, culminating in six years as the Regional Organiser for East Anglia and a further seven on the Licentiate Distinction panel (two of them as Chair). As a self-confessed technical “nerd” with a background in University teaching, I have also been involved in running photographic workshops for many years – including some of the regular Saturday afternoon Zoom sessions organised by the Nature Group.  Since retirement I have become heavily involved in website development, initially for Cambridge Camera Club, but later adapting the design for other applications. This includes the Nature Group, and I joined the Committee in 2023 as its Web Administrator.

Editor of The Iris

For me birding and nature was a serious hobby even when quite young, long before serious photography surfaced later in life, in fact 55 years later.

I had dabbled with film but when I approached retirement, I decided to see if I could get to grips with digital.  I joined my local camera club, North Cheshire PS and various folk suggested Nikon.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the DSLR journey but of late I have invested in mirrorless – I felt I needed to apologise to the row of togs alongside me in a silent hide when I had the only noisy shutter to be heard.

I joined the RPS in 2021 and was delighted with my Associate distinction achieved in 2022.

I should also mention that I have been a nature writer since I retired and have had two books published by Whittles.  Both are available in all bookshops and online. The first is my story of how I got into nature  - An Eye for Birds.  It started life as something to leave my four daughters but morphed into a plea for nature conservation.  The second, published 18 months later, goes under the title of Art and Nature in the Outer Hebrides.  Photographs, of course, play a very important part in my scribbling endeavours.

Membership Secretary

I have always enjoyed photography, but it wasn’t until I retired that I took it up more seriously and joined Hoddesdon Camera Club.  I started there as an absolute beginner and had to learn to use my camera as well as edit and print images for competitions.  I soon found that my interest in Nature steered my photography in that direction and wildlife photography became my main interest. 

Photography soon became a passion and I also began to achieve success in competitions.  I wanted more challenges so became a member of Ware Photographic Society then in 2017 joined the RPS.  Soon after that I joined the Nature Group and have enjoyed the opportunity to visit a variety of places on their field trips.  In 2019 I gained my CPAGB and last year both my DPAGB and LRPS.

Although I love to travel and photograph wildlife in different parts of the world I have really enjoyed photographing wildlife close to home.  Birds and insects have proved just as interesting and challenging and photographing them locally has been inspiring me to start thinking about working towards gaining my ARPS.

Committee Member

A keen photographer since the age of 9, I continued to dabble throughout my working life, taking up nature photography seriously after I was fortunate to get early retirement in 2006. Initially concentrating on photographing flowers, I soon became much more interested in the creatures crawling on them and capturing insects through my lens became my passion.
Having briefly been a member of a camera club in the early 1980s, I joined Richmond & Twickenham Photographic Society in the Spring of 2007, gaining my Licentiateship in April 2008. I achieved my Associateship in September 2016 and my Fellowship in April 2021, both in Natural History and both featuring the wildlife of Costa Rica.
For most of my photographic life, I was a Canon user, going through all the 5D iterations, but a few years ago, I became so impressed with the features of the OM System that this is now the kit I use for nature photography. The only outings my Canon R5 gets these days are trips to the coast for long exposure seascapes.
I became a Natural History Associate and Fellowship Assessor at the beginning of 2024 and very much enjoy mentoring individuals wishing to further their photographic skills in such a fascinating subject.
As a judge and speaker for the Surrey Photographic Association, I present a range of talks to camera clubs, generally featuring insects - the smaller the better - and I love to share my work with those who enjoy nature as much as I do, inspiring other photographers where I can.

Committee Member

I have had an interest in both nature and photography since childhood and have been an active member of a Camera Club for over 50 years.  I joined the RPS in the late 80s and the Nature Group Committee in 1993.  I was Chair from 2001 to 2003 and then became Editor of The Iris – a position I held until 2018.  In 2017 I started eNews.  In autumn 2021 I again took on the role of Editor of The Iris.

In 1994 I gained my Associate Distinction in nature with a slide submission of ‘Mediterranean Wild Flowers’.  I switched from film to digital in 2004 and achieved my Fellowship in 2006 with a panel of prints entitled ‘Birds of the Falklands Archipelago’.  The Falklands is my favourite place in the world and I have visited on numerous occasions.

I've always enjoyed travelling and have visited several European countries. Further afield Africa. the Galapagos, and North America have all offered excellent photographic opportunities.

I enjoy submitting my images to National and International Exhibitions as well as participating as a selector - the work produced by other photographers frequently inspires.

Committee Member

I have been taking photographs for longer than I care to remember. Currently I almost exclusively take Wildlife Images.  Having worked in Africa as a guide/camp manager this is my ‘go to’ destination for photography and wildlife experiences, but I have travelled and photographed in the Arctic, Antarctic, Alaska and other destinations.  My focus is predominantly on behaviour and the unusual rather than straight portraits/images.  I also do a lot of bird photography both on my travels and in the UK.

I joined the Nature Group in the Mid 90’s but my membership lapsed when I relocated to Africa, re-joining on my return.  I have been Exhibition Secretary of the Group for 7+ years and Webmaster for 3+ years.  My involvement in Exhibitions and the Group in general provides many opportunities to enjoy aspects of nature photography and places that as yet, remain outside of my experience.

Committee Member

I have always had a great interest in the natural world, starting out as a keen birdwatcher and proud member of the Young Ornithologists Club - which no doubt dates me!
In recent years I have been volunteering for the RSPB and do what I can to support conservation. My other passions include creative activities and music.
It seemed inevitable that I should combine my love of nature with creating, initially with paint and more recently with cameras. I started out with Olympus film cameras, then moved on to Canon.
I started to explore the digital world in 2008 and have gradually returned to the Olympus (now OM Systems) world.
I joined the RPS in 2016, immediately joined the Nature Group and have discovered great inspiration from fellow members.
The depth of skill and knowledge in the group is quite something to behold. Having (very) recently retired I’m hoping that I can commit more time to photography and eventually achieve a Distinction in Nature.