8th February was the start of the planned tours of 2018. Jetting off from Doncaster Airport it was a short hop to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport! As arranged, I was meet by my guide for the weekend. Bart Hoffman. From the airport we headed off to the fox location for an afternoon session. This involved us in a 7 mile round walk. So including the trudge in airports. I covered around 8 miles! Unfortunately it appeared we missed the foxes by some 10 minutes!! Had my flight been on time?? So time to check into the Hotel Faber, find a restaurant. Followed by an early night!
Friday 9th February Bart collected me from my hotel. Along with two other photographers, we headed off to search for the foxes. Again a long walk is to be endured to reach the area favoured by them. Weather was kind to us. As we neared the site I turned around and was delighted to see a female fox following close behind. She was sporting a beautiful winter coat. Bart was extremely excited at this sighting, as it is a fox he had not seen for many months. A little later we were joined by another sub adult female. "Limpy" named by Bart, as she had obviously injured her foot or leg and walked with a limp.We were favoured with their company for several hours and enjoyed some interesting photography.
Saturday 10th. We were picked up a little earlier from the hotel. Aagin the walk was to be endured. This time under grey skies and we where duanted by the prospect of rain. Fortunately the sky cleared to blue and the sun appeared.However the foxes were not that enthusiastic to join us. However we waited for several hours and they appeared for the rest of the afternoon.
So Sunday the 11th. A easy start to the day. Breakfast packing and a train journey to the Aiirport for the short flight home
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]]>Well 2016, like other years, is wizzing by! Is this an age thing? The older you get the faster it goes. But hey, Age is just a number, someone once told me.
Major part of my home based work has been preparing and staging my own exhibition. ~ It is staged at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Very pleased to the reception that it is getting. Some wonderful comments by friends and visitors. I have recieved lots of requests and invites, to judge and present and camera clubs throughout Wales and beyond! Busy time ahead. Heading out today (26th August) to celebrate my 72nd birthday, in UAE Dubai. Report and hopefully images on my return. So must leave it here for the time being. See you all soon. Please come back.
Well, here we are another year. Time fly's. First trip of 2016 was a great trip to the Yorkshire Dales with my good friend Jo Cameron. Lots of snow and red squirrels alowed us to have a great trip. Despite some "hairy" moments of the icy "Old Coal Road" we survived.
February/March. An amazing photographic safaria to Tanzania,East Africa, with friend Jeff Thomas. it was a wonderful trip with many great sightings and 4000 images now to go through. A new gallery on my site features some of the fantastic sightings we encountered.
]]>Our original plan was to stay at Kanha. However due to tiger cub sightings at Ranthambhore prompted us to move there. On reflection not so sure if it was the right decision. Unfortunately due to some selfish tourist overcrowding the main zone 3 of the reserve was closed. Denying us the opera unity to see T19 and cubs. However some reasonable sightings and images were recorded. Namely T28, Star Male, T24 Ustad, adult cub Sultan and the old lady Machali, who is sadly coming to the end of her days.
My next photographic trip is now in June 2014. A return to Hungary for the wonderful bird species there.
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An amazing 2013 Concluded with a great trip to Iceland, in December. Unfortunately we did not see the star attraction - The Northern Lights. Never the less a great trip, with friends Michael Vickers and Tony Rees.
God willing 2014 should prove to be another great adventure. It started in January with a trip to Scotland, to photograph the Red Squirrel. Despite unfavourable light conditions we managed to capture some lovely images of them leaping. Fellow travellers, Roger & Mary Toon, Jill Baxter and Jeff Thomas shared the cosy bungalow at the Northshots centre, Nr Avimore.
On the 15th February I again head off to India, with my great friend Michael (Tiger) Vickers. The three week adventure will take us to Delhi. From there to Bhratpur, known as "Bird City". Heading back to Delhi, we catch our internal flight to Calcutta to explore the vast mango swamps of the Sundarbans. We are praying to catch a glimpse of the elusive "Swamp Tiger". However there are many other species to look out for, including King Crocodiles, Rhinos, River Dolphins and numerous birds.
A further internal flight takes us to Kaziranga National Park. The park is the host for two third of world’s population on one horned rhinos and also holds the highest density of Tigers among all the protected areas in the world. This park also is a domicile for large breeding inhabitants of Elephant, wild water buffaloes and swamp deer. Declared as Important Bird Area by Birdlife International this national park is a home for great variety of inhabitant and migrating birds. Located on the banks of river Brahmaputra, the sanctuary enjoys tropical vegetation and is marked by elephant grass, marshy lowlands and tropical moist broadleaf forests. The beautiful flora and diverse fauna adds to the scenic beauty of the park. We have several elephant safaris and a jungle trip to a Gibbon sanctuary.
In May my wife, Jutta, are visiting Andalusia, a beautiful part of Spain. June I head off to a repeat visit to Hungary, again, with Mike Vickers. On my return must take a trip or two to visit the Puffins on Skomer Island. Then July/August we shall be off to visit my daughter in Canada! Oh and it is my 70th birthday in August.
Looking on to 2015 the first trip is booked. Norway for Golden and White Tailed Sea Eagles etc. Wow.
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What a whirlwind of a year so far. Here we are in September, where does the time go. My fantastic trip to India seems an age ago but the sights and sounds of my amazing trip is etched deep in the memory banks.
India awaits again in 2014. A 20 day trip planned, visiting Bird City ay Bharatpur then onto the Sundarban, in the Bay of Bengal.
Back to this year. Visits to North Wales, and Dorset added some interesting images to my galleries. A couple of days visiting my friend Allen Lloyd, in Monmouthshire proved very productive. Another visit to London is always interesting. Then there was a three night stay on Skokholm to photograph those enchanting Puffins!
Two 1940 themed weekends at The Black Country Museum and The Severn Railway were great fun.
This month off the Krakow, Poland visiting Auschwitz and the City. October we are off to North Devon to Celebrate Jutta, my wife, birthday.
A couple of days arranged photographing Raptors before a planned trip to Iceland in December for Landscapes and hopefully the Northern Lights.
On top of this my roll of Chairman of Tenby & District Camera Club kicks off with the new 2013/2014 program. All in all a busy time.
Another major change for me this year – changed my equipment from Nikon to Canon.
What a whirlwind of a year so far. Here we are in September, where does the time go. My fantastic trip to India seems an age ago but the sights and sounds of my amazing trip is etched deep in the memory banks.
India awaits again in 2014. A 20 day trip planned, visiting Bird City ay Bharatpur then onto the Sundarban, in the Bay of Bengal.
Back to this year. Visits to North Wales, and Dorset added some interesting images to my galleries. A couple of days visiting my friend Allen Lloyd, in Monmouthshire proved very productive. Another visit to London is always interesting. Then there was a three night stay on Skokholm to photograph those enchanting Puffins!
Two 1940 themed weekends at The Black Country Museum and The Severn Railway were great fun.
This month off the Krakow, Poland visiting Auschwitz and the City. October we are off to North Devon to Celebrate Jutta, my wife, birthday.
A couple of days arranged photographing Raptors before a planned trip to Iceland in December for Landscapes and hopefully the Northern Lights.
On top of this my roll of Chairman of Tenby & District Camera Club kicks off with the new 2013/2014 program. All in all a busy time.
Another major change for me this year – changed my equipment from Nikon to Canon.
]]>We live on a fantastic and diverse planet. Despite wars, conflict, famine and poverty and greed, mainly the creation of mankind. There are still many beautiful and wondrous experiences on offer by nature. Capturing a tiny element of these through my camera lens has now become a passion.
I have meet some wonderful and kind people through my photography. This is one of the reasons I do workshops. To share some of my experiences and knowledge with like minded people.
Having spent most of my life working in industry and raising a family,a life changing event some years ago, prompted me to take a different view on life. This change in direction enabled me to concentrate on my desire to create imagery again. I was fortunate enough to be able to set up a small company producing video presentations for charitable trusts and the like.
Having now retired, if there is such a thing, I concentrate on my stills photography. Mainly wildlife. I believe I am an accomplished AdobePhotoshop and Lightroom user. My role as Chairman for our local Camera Club keep"s me very active.
I do so hope if you decide to join me on the workshops you to will develop a passion, not only of photography but of what nature has to offer.
What we have subjected nature to in just a few decades is horrendous. However I am firmly convinced she will triumph in the end.
I look forward to meeting you.
Kind regards
Royston Packer]]>
Now all packed for my adventure to India to photograph the Mighty Tiger. Fly out from Heathrow at 22:00 Sunday 5th. I will endevour to update my blog and galleries whilst away so please check it out.
]]>Well lots to look forward in 2013. This kicks off in January with a trip to Greece to photograph Dalmatian Pelicans. February we travel to Gambia more of a chill out and to get some much need sunshine. However the camera will be at hand as the bird life should be excellent. In May I am travelling to Ranthambhore, India, to photograph tigers. June I have a three night stay on the island of Skokholm . So lots to look forward to. Check out the galleries for hopefully interesting images.
Have a great year.
Scorpius
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Well do not despair with the weather still opportunities out there and still chance of some good weather to come. If all else fails time to go through your photo catalog and sort those shots! Keep on shooting!
Scorpius.
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Hi
Exciting Month ahead. Visiting Norfolk again to view the Knot Spectacular. Hoping for Owls in flight. End of the month flying off to Norway to photography Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles etc. Will report soon.
]]>If you are into post production with your photography I am producing a series of on-line tutorials.
Check out the first oe here:
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Thanks for visiting. This is my first blog so I will proceed slowly!
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