2023 Top Ten
I set my self a challenge! To look back over the last 12 months and choose my favourite images that I had taken, nothing to do with anything technical just purely what I liked best….It was really difficult! I managed to get down to 28 images and really struggled to choose the final 10. To leave some out seemed wrong but that is why it was a challenge! So here are my final choices….my favourite personal images from 2023. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them!
The misty Scottish Highlands. I visited the Glencoe area with a specific image in mind of the Buachaille Etive Mor mountain but the misty conditions meant I couldn’t even see it! The poor weather did however bring new photo opportunities with atmosphere! I loved how these trees were trying to poke out from the mist and just disappear into it further back. There other atmospheric shots from this trip with others more compositionally sound but I just loved the feel of this one over the others.
Emotion always plays a part in any choice, Any one else is simply looking at a picture, but the photographer was there, had a connection, felt and lived the moment…This was without doubt my number 1 wildlife encounter of the year. I had put a lot of time into researching the behaviour of Otters and how to get close without disturbing them. I was all camouflaged up, laying down among rocks and seaweed just metres away from this wonderful animal while he never knew I was there - he even curled up and went to sleep in front of me! I couldn’t contain my huge grin as I arrived back at the car…
Short Eared Owl. I have been chasing these amazing birds for a few years now, each time coming away still wanting. They are winter visitors to the UK and can be seen out hunting during daylight hours if you know where to look! Last year was a poor year for them with few around, 2023 has been great so far however! RSPB Bempton Cliffs provided a great day out searching for shorties and this one stood out for me. I had ventured away from the crowds of people all doing the same thing as me, This move paid dividends as the Owl hunted closer to me where it was quieter, giving me a quick glance as he passed…
I had actually gone to photograph Sparrowhawks in Dumfries and Galloway. Where there are plenty of garden birds feeding away there is a good chance of Sparrowhawk hunting activity! Whilst sat in a hide watching this Woodpecker feeding, the Jay arrived and they began shouting at each other! A magnificent interaction to witness let alone photograph!
St Aidans - my local RSPB reserve near Leeds. A pair of Kestrels live here and are not that bothered about people walking around the reserve. They happily hunt along the paths, sometimes hovering quite close by! This male was sat watching me in a tree and posed perfectly for me as I grabbed a few snaps. One of my favourite birds of prey and I just loved this intimate portrait of him!
The Isle of Mull features a few times on this list - I did visit the magical island twice in 2023 with the main aim to photograph Otters and Eagles, but I cant resist stopping for a shot of a Highland Cow, especially with such a Scottish backdrop and ambience! My favourite shot of the iconic Caledonian “Coo”!
“Eagle Island” - the isle of mull is one of THE places in the whole of Europe to spot the White Tailed Eagle, also known as Sea Eagles after such an amazing comeback with the help of conservation and reintroduction programs. This is Britain’s largest bird of prey and was extinct until fairly recently. Mull Charters, a small fishing boat will take you out onto the sea lochs to get close to these huge birds while they dive for fish. I liked this shot as it shows the enormous 2m wingspan - I even set this as the background image on my phone…
I ventured up to Scotland in February with the main aim of trying to capture Red Squirrels in their winter coats with their bushier tails and tufted ears…In snow ideally but sadly the snow had left a week earlier! I did however manage an unobstructed view of this guy sat watching me and was the standout image of all the shots I took of these cheeky rodents! I did get much closer shots of them but this one, showing more habitat was my favourite…
On my last visit to Scotland I arrived on the shores of Loch Lomond about an hour before sunrise. I had researched this area and found my composition and just had to wait and hope for a bit of colour as the sun came up…I certainly wasn’t disappointed! I love both of these shots from Duck Bay and couldn’t choose just one for this top ten selection so they both made the cut! The colours were amazing. There is no beating the feeling of nailing the shot you envisaged when setting the camera up, especially when the weather plays ball too! I do love a bit of long exposure photography, these were taken over 30 seconds to smooth out the water and give a lovely calm feeling to the scene…