Wildlife Photographer of the Year:

  • Delighted to be invited to the 50th Wildlife Photographer of the Year celebrations at The Natural History Museum, London in the presence of
  • HRH The Duchess of Cambridge
  • And honoured to have two images chosen to be included in the coffee table book celebrating the BEST of the BEST for the 50th Anniversary of Wildlife
  • Photographer of the Year - selected from tens of thousands of images
  • 2005 - Judge - Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • 1998 - Featured photographer in the BBC TV series of WPotY - episode 'All at Sea'

           

            WPotY Awards:

  • 1995 to the present - 5 time award winner: Inc. Category Winner & Category Runner-up and 3 Highly Commended

   

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'I love nature'

'I love photography'

'I am a Nature Photographer'

 

Quoted from my good friend  Werner Bollmann, Nature Photographer, Germany  

It's simple, it's profound and it says everything about what true nature photographers do ... honestly, it can't be put any simpler or better!   RJ

ABOUT 

  • Description:
  • In the early days the younger animal was suave, sophisticated, even debonair (honest!).  More hunky, chunky, funky, monkey these days - plumage thinning but generally intact with silvery highlights.  A robust frame and body which often increases reserves for winter.  Varying levels of facial hair frequently observed.
  • Habits:
  • Occasionally unmentionable but normally acceptable and sociable.
  • Habitat:
  • Generally seen around country areas, woodland and coast.  Often seen in mountainous or other wild areas.  Occasionally found in urban or city locations for very short periods.
  • Range:  
  • Usually to be found in various and all parts of mainland Europe, particularly Spain and France but has been found as far afield as Israel, India, Seychelles, USA, Arctic Scandinavia, Australia, The Gambia, Spitzbergen (Svalbard) and Madeira.  Small offshore islands seem to especially attract. 
  • Breeding:  
  • Is known to have successfully bred only once, resulting in a single female offspring of the species graduated from a place of higher education having completed her Degree & two Masters and moved on to a new career as a Specialised Cardiac Physiologist - she is brighter, quicker, more intelligent and has smarter, fresher plumage - and already knows more than the adult! Especially savvy in the social media high-tech world!
  • Distribution:  
  • Generally found throughout northern England with very frequent forays into Scotland - rarely found south of Hadrian's Wall on a line across from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth. 

  

 

                                             " I  AM  a  Nature  Photographer "

  

  • Was paid his greatest compliment from the great and influential Finnish photographer, Hannu Hautala (who recently passed away - July 2023) at the Kuusamo Nature Photo Festival in Northern Finland when I was one of the guest speakers.  Hannu came up afterwards and shook my hand -  "Rob, you shoot photographs just like a Scandinavian"
  • Is a Newcastle United and England football supporter - a man who has known (emotional) suffering in his life!
  • Had 126 mosquito bites (they were the ones that could be reached to count!) photographing Bee-eaters in the Camargue
  • During his career and following an alleged 'mooning' report on the M6 motorway near Penrith took over 20 written statements from a bus full of holidaymakers describing in graphic detail Bob 'Boomtown Rats' Geldof's backside and other soft parts!!!
  • Has loved Border Terriers since childhood
  • Investigated wildlife crime in his former career as a Police Officer and Force Wildlife Officer with Northumbria Police
  • Arrived in Florida with his family two hours before Hurricane Charlie hit!  No wonder the rental car keys were thrown at them!  A wild night!
  • Has a passion for Geography since schooldays
  • Appeared as the young Bobby Charlton for a TV documentary on the 'Charlton brothers', following England's 1966 World Cup win.  With schoolmates he played football in the back streets of their hometown, Ashington in Northumberland, ... and has wondered since if this qualifies for an actors 'Equity' card? It WAS after all a fee paying performance - the 'lads' each received a steak & kidney pie, bottle of 'Vimto' and were allowed to keep the ball!
  • Received his first fracture breaking a foot during school football and has since broken his ribs three times, fractured his spine in 2001 in a fall, in a bizarre office equipment accident shattered his front teeth splitting the roof palate of his mouth!  Badly fractured his arm whilst changing a light-bulb in 2006 requiring surgery to insert a plate! And then surgery again to remove it some months later! - He also received a permanent elbow injury whilst on duty following a violent fight - which ended his Police career overnight!
  • Through the experience of life - has never trusted anyone who wears white socks with dark clothing or has a beard but no moustache or most taxi drivers!
  • Was bitten by an Adder guiding a photographic tour in Glen Feshie, Strathspey, Scotland - but as Northshot's Pete Cairns put it - "Could have been worse, Rob ... it might have been one of the guests" ... thanks Pete! 
  • Is a keen Photo-Tour Guide and Bird Watching Guide

  

 

 

   

 

  • Selected Presentations:
  • Guest speaker at the prestigious GDT Nature Photography Festival - the Association of German Nature Photographers, Lunen, Germany
  • Guest speaker at the Scottish Nature Photography Fair, Battleby, Scotland 
  • Guest speaker at the BVNF Nature Photo Festival - Antwerp, Belgium
  • Guest speaker at the Kuusamo Nature Photo Festival, Finland
  • Various presentations and webcasts at Darwin Centre Live events, Natural History Museum, London
  • Private showcasing of work to the members of the Natural History Museum, London
  • Guest lecturer on board 'MS Balmoral' - Norwegian coast and Svalbard Archipelago cruise

 

  • Influences and inspirations:
  • The late Eric Bird MBE (Friend, Retired Dentist, Film Maker, Photographer), Laurie Campbell (Nature Photographer), Robert Hainard (Artist), the late Hannu Hautala (Nature Photographer), Vincent Munier (Nature Photographer), Dr Eric Ennion (Naturalist, Artist), Hugh Miles (Film Maker), Vincent Van Gogh (Artist), Claude Monet (Artist), Art Wolfe (Nature Photographer, Artist), Sir Ranulph Fiennes (Explorer), Bruce Pearson (Artist), Klaus Nigge (Nature Photographer), Jan Tove (Nature Photographer) the late Jonny Pott (Friend, Naturalist, Bird Guide)

 

 

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