Neil Philips is an expert naturalist, speaker and photographer and on Monday 20th he’ll be visiting us to talk about the world of insects and invertebrates, which can make wonderful photographic subjects.
Neil will show his best images and give us some tips, explaining the photography techniques behind the photos. He will also tell us a bit more about the creatures themselves, and is happy to answer questions afterwards.
And if you don’t like spiders, think of this as aversion therapy.
More wildlife photos on Flickr and on his website, http://www.uk-wildlife.co.uk/
Neil’s profile – from his website;
Although it is now almost a cliche to say it, I have been a fan of nature and wildlife since a young age. In fact I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t!
My education involved studying ecological and palaeontological subjects to the BSc and MSc level and I have now ended up as an environmental education ranger in a country park, which is quite handy for a wildlife photographer. I don’t have to wander far to take photos in my lunch break!
I have been trying to take photos of wildlife since I was a child, when I tried and failed to use a simple 35mm Boots film camera and ended up with tiny pink spots on some grass that should have been chaffinches! In 2007 I purchased my first ‘real’ camera, a Panasonic Fz7 bridge camera, with which I learnt the basics of wildlife photography…. and got hooked!
Then in 2009, as soon as I saved up enough money, I bought my first DSLR: a Pentax k20d and a sigma 150-500mm lens and haven’t looked back. I have added more lenses and kit since and recently upgraded to a Pentax K-5.
I have had some photos published and used by various conservation charities and they are now used in my wildlife talks. My speciality, if I have one, is freshwater invertebrate photography, which I achieve using my photographic aquariums.