Red Deer Photography Workshop

The Red Deer Photography Workshop on 23rd October is now fully booked. Anyone interested in an extra date - please send me an email and I will add you to a waiting list.

Photograping wild Peregrine Falcons in Yorkshire!

Yorkshire has some truly fantastic sites for wildlife photography, but perhaps none quite as exhilarating as Malham Cove during the breeding season. Last Friday saw me on top of the cove watching a pair of wild peregrines flying against the perfect deep blue sky. These kind of mornings are what gets the blood flowing... truly inspiring... a special wildlife spectacle, played out in a majestic landscape. Peregrines have nested on the cove for the last few years, and whilst they are protected near the nest by law, here it's possible to photograph them from the public footpath.

These flight shots have only had slight cropping - showing just how close the peregrines can be! All were shot with a 300mm lens and 1.4 converter. I always think that trying to use a tripod or monopod is just a waste of time... these birds are so fast that you really need to handhold to follow them effectively. Still, it's tough..! A peregrine can be on the other side of the valley one minute and then right above your head the next. These images were taken on ISO 400 at shutter speeds between 1/1250 and 1/2000 of a second. I slightly decreased the aperture for some to increase depth of field - which seemed to improve the image a little.

Watching these birds drop like a stone then rise steeply above the cove is an incredible experience. I had a number of chances as both birds performed against the crystal clear blue sky - lit by bright sun.

The conditions were just perfect, and I'm itching to get back before the young fledge. Last year I pretty much missed the whole thing, so I'm more than happy to have these shots in the bag..

Next year I am planning to run a workshop concentrating on the bird life of Malhamdale - to include the peregrines. If you're interested in this wildlife photography workshop then send me an email or give me a call. It's certainly one of the most exciting wildlife shoots you'll ever have!!

Red Grouse Photography Workshop

I have added a new Red Grouse Photography Workshop in August as this is the perfect time to photograph these birds against the stunning carpet of purple heather. We will visit well known breeding grounds in Swaledale and Nidderdale - both are excellent locations for photographing grouse by the roadside along with many other upland birds. View the Yorkshire Dales Bird Photography page for more details.

Red Deer Photography Workshop

Photograph majestic Red Deer during the Autumn Rut

I will be leading a wildlife photography workshop on red deer at Studley Royal in North Yorkshire on Sunday 23rd October. Price £85. Maximum 4 people. The date is timed to coincide with the annual red deer rut that is at its peak during October. Here stags vie for position as they hope to establish dominance over the female herd. Stags are at their best during autumn and provide one of nature's greatest wildlife spectacles when engaging in full blown battles with clashing antlers.

The species are not limited to red deer and we will also be able to photograph fallow and sika amidst the grounds. The changing colours of autumn will provide a colourful backdrop for this wildlife photography workshop.



Itinerary

8.00am: meet and discuss the day

8.30am: begin photography

12.00am: Lunch at the Lakeside cafe; learn from images

1.00pm: more deer photography

3.00pm: finish

Equipment: Ideally a 300mm lens or longer; plenty of memory card space; tripod optional; please do not wear full camouflage clothing

To book a place contact me: paul.miguel@ntlworld.com or 07759485791 (£30 deposit required)