With just under a week to go until The Big Picture – Greater Thames Photography Competition closes for entries, we are delighted to announce our fourth and final judge, professional wildlife photographer, David Tipling (www.davidtipling.com)! We asked David a few questions to find out a bit about himself, his passion for nature photography and what he will be looking for when judging the Connecting Landscapes category…. Tell us about yourself:
“I have been a professional wildlife photographer for 22 years. Having always retained a passion for birds they remain the focus of my work, however I frequently photograph all sorts of subjects related to nature including people. Much of my photographic and film work is directed towards story telling. Most recently depicting stories related to Birds and culture that culminated in the RSPB endorsed book Birds & People published in 2013. I have also worked recently with BirdLife Malta and BirdLife Cyprus on illegal trapping in the Mediterranean and was a cameraman on Emptying the Skies a film following an intrepid squad of pan-European bird activists who risk their lives waging a secret war against poachers, disrupting illegal trapping and freeing as many birds as possible. When not out in the field photographing I can often be found working in my 4 acre wet woodland in the Norfolk Broads in which I am restoring a small reedbed.”
Picture - David Tipling at work photographing a colony of gannets
What does being part of The Big Picture – Greater Thames Photography Competition mean to you?
“I cut my birding and photographic teeth on the Medway and Thames Estuaries. As a ten year old YOC member I can still remember my first visit to Cliffe. By the time I could drive I spent much of my free time with camera in hand roaming the marshes around Northward Hill, Elmley and Cliffe so I have a strong attachment to the area. So it is great to see a photographic competition set up to champion the wild places and wildlife of the Greater Thames.”
In your opinion, what makes a good landscape photograph?
“A picture that engages the viewer and then lingers in the memory whether it is a more abstract interpretation of a scene or simply a stunning vista shot in beautiful light. We are bombarded with great imagery these days and so it has become much harder to produce images that have plenty of impact but we all see a scene in different ways, that is the beauty of photography. Line10 photographers up in a landscape and you are likely to get many different interpretations of the same view but with often surprising results.”
What will you be looking for when judging the Connecting Landscapes category?
“I will be looking for pictures that surprise and make me say wow! But I will be looking for pictures too that transport the viewer to the Greater Thames, that contain the essence of the place and give it its identity.”
Any top tips for entrants?
“Try and be as original as you can, don't try and copy views or styles of pictures you have already seen published. As a judge you are looking for surprises, for interpretations of scenes that feel fresh so do'nt be afraid to experiment and send in pictures that you feel might not conform to what you think people will expect.”
We are delighted to have David on board and look forward to working with him and one lucky winner will be get the chance to join David in Norfolk for a photography workshop!
Entry for The Big Picture closes at midnight on 22nd April, but before it closes we have one final amazing walk to offer… FREE Guided Walk:
Join us on Good Friday to explore the iconic marshes of Elmley National Nature Reserve. Elmley is a photographer’s paradise with lapwing within touching distance and hares lolloping across the vast landscape! Meet at the car park at Elmley at 10am (allow yourself a little extra time as the drive out to the car park is beautiful!). Nature photographer, Jodie Randall, will be leading the way, and we’ll be hoping to snap Elmley’s newest arrivals; the lapwing chicks! First spotted at the weekend, this cute little guy was snapped by Richard and Shirley Pope.
Picture - Elmley’s first lapwing chick of 2014, by Richard and Shirley Pope
To book onto Friday’s walk please contact Stef Lawrence: Email – Stephanie.Lawrence@rspb.org.uk Phone – 07850210039
Get snapping everyone! For more info on how to enter the competition visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/futurescapes/greaterthames/photo-competition.aspx
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