Where to photograph Parakeets in London

We turned up at Richmond Park in London for the Deer rut in October having read for ages this was the place to go. We got loads of great deers shots but what I had bargained for when we parked the car were Ring-tailed Parakeets flying from tree to tree.

Vivid green, they obviously make a brilliant subject for a photo - but you'll need to be quick. Pictured here is one I managed to get as I stood in the car park.

By the way, the best place to see them is at the Richmond Gate entrance to the park on Star and Garter Hill. For those of you with Sat Nav, enter this postcode - TW10 6RR. Once there, go through the main gates, turn right on the mini roundabout and head for the White Lodge lodge car park on the right. Once you get out, you'll hear them before you see them!

Interestingly, the Beeb published an article about Parakeets last week. Apparently there are 30,000 in London. Link below.

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6478911.stm
  

Colin Varndell RSPB Talk

There's a chance to see the birds and wildlife captured on film by Colin Varndell during a year in Dorset, on Friday April 20th. It's at Gillingham Primary School, School Road, Gillingham. The event is at 7.30pm and is organised by an RSPB volunteer group. £2 for members, £2.50 for non-members. He is a very talented and experienced photographer, so if you're in the area, drop by - it'll be well worth a visit.

• More event details
• Review of Wild Dorset: The Year in Photographs

Sigma APO 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG Lens Lust

We generally try to stay away from dribbling over new gear, but this is an interesting new lens from Sigma.

"The APO 200-500mm F2.8 EX DG is the world’s first Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens that offers a fast aperture of F2.8 at 500mm focal length. It .. maintains its fast F2.8 aperture over the entire zoom range.

Shooting distance and focal length can be viewed on the lens' LCD panel." If they show the current depth of field on the LCD panel, that would be very, very useful, but they don't mention that in their press release.

Filters are rear mounted, and a circular polarizing filter can be used. It comes with a dedicated 2x teleconverter. No price or launch date is set, and the weight is unknown but apparently Sigma were using two people to carry it around at PMA. Rumours that it comes with a free wheelbarrow are unfounded, but it certainly doesn't look light. It doesn't look like it'll be cheap either.

F/2.8 in a lens of this length is unusual, I think it's the world's first. Edit: Thanks Albert (comment below) for clearing up the DG classification - this lens works fine on full-frame 35mm sensors (and film!)

No-one has reviewed it yet, that I can see.

Natura Magica

You might want to double check this, because my knowledge of the Swedish language comes purely from one Stranglers' record.

Natura Magica is a Swedish nature photography collective of eight photographers who have a very interesting, graphic style. Their work is striking, and well worth a look. Much use of long exposures, and lovely soft bokeh. A lot of it is very abstract, and most of it is nature, rather than wildlife.

• Natura Magica
  

EOS 1D MK III

Arthur Morris and Andy Rouse have both spoken about the new Canon pro SLR - the EOS 1D MK III.

Arthur Morris is in the Canon 'Explorers of Light' programme, and has had a 1D III in his hands - he said that after one day with it, he was impressed enough to order two. His latest newsletter has some shots showing the amazing ISO 3200 performance, "comparable to ISO 400 in the 1Ds MII and the MII 1DN." Unrelated to the MK III, Fabiola del Alcazar has interviewed Arthur Morris on her excellent Nature Art blog.

Andy Rouse has prepared a document detailing the new features in the MK III that are particularly of interest to nature and wildlife photographers. (He also has some great new pictures from the Arctic Circle on his blog.)

• Andy Rouse's blog - he has a document on the EOS 1D MK III available for download
• Rob Galbraith's full treatment of the EOS 1D MK III
• Fabiola del Alcazar's Arthur Morris interview on the Nature Art blog
• Arthur Morris' website and bulletin archives (the latest newsletter is not yet archived.)
  
• Canon's Explorers of Light
  

British Deer

The British Deer Society run an annual photo competition in four parts. We've already missed the first deadline, but three remain, and there are prizes for each stage.

The categories are 'deer', 'deer country' and 'stalking connections.' "The judges will be looking for imaginative pictures which are well executed, composed, exposed & focussed. Deer doing something or illustrating a particular activity will be more eye catching than a straight forward portrait – provided the above qualities of production are complied with. Deer Country & Stalking Connnections should also be imaginative and illustrative and technically well produced. Deer do not necessarilly have to feature in either of these categories although it would be preferred if there was some evidence of, or relating to, deer in ‘Deer Country’ pictures."

For non-BDS members the competition costs £5 per quarter, the three remaining entry dates are 1st May, 10th August & 10th October 2007.

Neil McIntyre is a previous winner of the overall competition, and we've been lucky enough to spend some time with him in Scotland a couple of years ago, where we had some excellent opportunities with red squirrels, crested tits, greater spotted woodpeckers, and of course, deer. There is an interesting interview with him on the BDS website (link below.)

Our two favourite places for red deer are the Scottish Highlands, particularly around Melgarve and the Findhorn Valley, and Richmond Park, in London. (Richmond Park has Fallow deer too.)

There are many other good areas for deer photography - take a look at your local wildlife trust website (the BBC has good regional information too). One popular area is Ashridge forest near Berkhamstead.

• British Deer Society competition
• Neil McIntyre interview
• Neil McIntyre website
• Ashridge forest information
• UK Deer information
  

Above photo 'Deer and Photographer' taken in Richmond Park (c) Matt Jones