A question that has plagued me over the years is 'what do you want to do for your birthday?' Some people seem to have an unnatural attachment to their birthday, like suddenly the world owes them the most perfect of days, where the weather should be unseasonably excellent, they are lavished with gifts, food and uninterrupted fun as if they are the reason the world revolves. I'm not a fan of mine at all and, if this year wasn't a big one, I'd likely be happy with a trip to the pub for a quiet pint.
My birthday this year recognizes the start of a new decade in my life and, to be honest, it's quite a landmark for me. It's nothing to do with the fact my age now starts with a three, but because it signifies that I've been a professional photographer for more than 10 years - living out the dream I've had since my early teens, a life sitting behind the camera making images of wildlife. That's something worth celebrating. It's taken far more work and effort to make it as a pro than just ageing - any getting-slightly-older fool can do that!
This story is from the October 2023 edition of N-Photo: the Nikon magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2023 edition of N-Photo: the Nikon magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Quack shot
A rain-soaked Robert May proves you don't have to head out searching for elusive birds of prey to capture stunning shots of birds in flight
Kim Grant
Scottish landscape photographer Kim Grant prefers chasing more intricate - even abstract - images and tells Keith Wilson why she eschews the large, wide views of well-known locations
Heal the noise
Find out from James Paterson which are the best noise reduction tools in Photoshop
Clone in a crowd
Make multiple clones and master essential layer masking skills in Affinity Photo with James Paterson
Full of hot air
Mike Harris photographs Bristol Balloon Fiesta from Clifton Observatory so he can frame the city’s famed suspension bridge
Flutter speed
Mike Harris shows you how to capture beautiful butterfly close-ups without a tripod
Take-off sequence
Nigel A Ball uses Pre-Release Capture mode and fast burst speeds to shoot butterflies on the wing
The perfect gift
My 30th birthday marks more than a decade as a pro- and all I want is a cracking moment with nature at a stunning location holding my camera
20 top tips for...Autumn landscapes
Mark Bauer gives some expert advice to help you capture the vibrant colours of the landscape during the most photogenic season of the year
A game of tones
Our apprentice meets a vintage diver and channels the House of the Dragon with pro Paul David Smith