'I love nature'

'I love photography'

'I am a Nature Photographer'

 Werner Bollmann, Nature Photographer and friend, Germany  

Simple, profound and says everything that needs to be said ... it can't be put any better!   RJ

• Description:
• In the early days the young 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:
• Sometimes 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 India, Seychelles, USA, Arctic Scandinavia, Australia and recently The Gambia, a first visit to Africa.  Small offshore islands seem to especially attract. 

• Breeding:  
• Has only been known to successfully breed once with the female of the species, resulting in a single offspring recently fledged to a place of higher education - this young seems to be brighter, quicker, more intelligent and has smarter, fresher plumage - also claims to already know more than the adult!

• 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. 

• 1962-74 ... Schooling
• Resigned - Too many kids there!        
• 1974-76 ... Banking
• Resigned - too boring!
• 1976-94 ... Policing
• Retired compulsorily - injured on duty!  
• But exciting, frightening, demanding, frustrating, varying, tiring, challenging and rewarding ... while it lasted!
• 1974-present ... Photographing
• Still doing it ... despite the rumours!
• 1995-present ... Guiding
• Birds/Wildlife groups and Photography groups
• 1957-present ... Living
• And always enjoying and being inspired by nature, wildlife, outdoors, family ... life!

• If these entries stop being updated then you know this last status has changed drastically for the worse!

• Is a Newcastle United and England football supporter - a man who has known suffering in his life!
• Received 126 mosquito bites (they were the ones that could be reached to count!) photographing Bee-eaters in the Camargue
• Following an alleged 'mooning' incident to bus trippers on the M6 motorway near Penrith, took more than 20 written statements describing Bob Geldof's (then of the 'Boomtown Rats') backside and other parts!!!
• Has loved Border Terriers since boyhood
• Investigated wildlife crime in his former career as a Police Officer and Force Wildlife Officer with Northumbria Police
• With his family, landed in Florida two hours before Hurricane Charlie struck - no wonder the rental car keys were thrown at them!  A wild night!
• Had a passion for Geography since schooldays - and still maintains an active interest with the ambition of studying for a degree in the subject before it's too late
• Appeared as a young Bobby Charlton, playing football in the back streets of their hometown, Ashington, Northumberland, for a TV documentary on the 'Charlton brothers', following the 1966 World Cup ... has wondered since if this qualifies for an actors 'Equity' card?  It WAS a fee paying performance - receiving a steak & kidney pie, bottle of 'Vimto' and the 'lads' were allowed to keep the ball!
• Broke a foot during school football, has broken ribs three times, fractured spine in 2001, shattered front teeth and split mouth roof palate, badly fractured an arm needing a plate inserted changing a light-bulb in 2006, not to mention the permanent elbow injury that ended a Police career in 1993 - just don't stand near in a thunderstorm!
• Through experiencing life - has never trusted someone who wears white socks with a dark suit, has a beard but no moustache or most taxi drivers!
• 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! 
• Received his greatest compliment from the great and influential Finnish photographer, Hannu Hautala, at the Kuusamo Nature Photo Festival.  Hannu said - "You photograph like a Scandinavian!" ... of course it could have been lost in translation and been something more like ... "After showing those pictures you're Finnished!" (sic)
• Has been a keen Photo-Tour Guide for himself and others for a number of years ... but not just a Guide ... a Northshots Guide!

• Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards:
• 1995-present - 5 awards: inc. Category Winner & Category Runner-up and 3 Highly Commended
• 2005 - Judge - Wildlife Photographer of the Year  
• 1998 - Featured photographer in the BBC TV series of WPotY - episode 'All at Sea'

• Selected Presentations:
• 2001 - Guest speaker at the prestigious GDT Nature Photography Festival - the Association of German Nature Photographers, Lunen, Germany
• 2001 - Guest speaker at the Scottish Nature Photography Fair, Battleby, Scotland 
• 2002 - Guest speaker at the BVNF Nature Photo Festival - Antwerp, Belgium
• 2005 - Guest speaker at the Kuusamo Nature Photo Festival, Finland
• 2001 - 2005 - Various presentations and webcam broadcasts at Darwin Centre Live events, Natural History Museum, London
• 2002 - Private showcasing of work to the members of the Natural History Museum, London

• Influences:
• Eric Bird MBE (Film Maker, Photographer), Laurie Campbell (Photographer), Robert Hainard (Artist), Hannu Hautala (Photographer), Vincent Munier (Photographer), Dr Eric Ennion (Naturalist, Artist), Hugh Miles (Film Maker), Vincent Van Gogh (Artist), Claude Monet (Artist), Art Wolfe (Photographer, Artist), Sir Ranulph Twistelton-Whickham Fiennes (Explorer), Bruce Pearson (Artist), Klaus Nigge (Photographer), Jan Tove (Photographer)

Work hard, play hard, laugh out loud and eat as many 'Mars bars' as you can get away with! ... trying to apply any three of these at any one time can't be too bad ... can it?  RJ 2011