Focus on Otters - photography, ecology and fieldcraft
Dr Richard Shucksmith in collaboration with Shetland Nature, Brydon Thomason run joint exciting, informative and fun workshops. Commencing on the Saturday 8th of March to Thursday 13th of March 2014 this species specific assignment to photograph one of Europe’s most iconic, adorable and charismatic species – the Otter. The tour is run in conjunction with Shetland Nature please follow the link to book Focus on Otter: photography, ecology and fieldcraft.
Species Specific Assignments
It stands to reason that the more you get to know a species and the more time you spend with it, the more you understand it and the better your encounters become. With this in mind, when it comes to photographing a species this is very much the case and we have found ‘Species Specific assignment’ to be the most productive, popular and rewarding approach to creating a portfolio of images and to work towards the competition entries we all aspire to.
Knowing the ecology and behaviour of your subject well and with guidance to the best locations, at the best times and offering advice on new techniques provides the opportunity shoot more than conventional portrait shots and explore both the behaviour of the animal and the creativity of photography.
It has been by way of popular demand from photographers seeking our guidance to photograph Shetlands most iconic wildlife that encouraged us to launch this totally unique program of Species assignments throughout the seasons. These assignments are available as one to one assignments and can be tailored for your requirements or as small group workshops with set dates.
Focus on Otter: photography, ecology and fieldcraft
Wild Otters are undoubtedly one of the most sought after, challenging and ultimately rewarding subjects for wildlife photographers in Europe. Few creatures encapsulate both the ‘aw’ and the ‘wow’ factors like Otters do; from their stealthy hunting and predatory abilities to the intimate, adorable and playful antics of a mother and her cubs.
Otters are captivating loveable animals, full of character and interesting behaviour that lead fascinating lives and are highly evolved to exploit both the underwater and terrestrial environments. They are shy, but with knowledge of how they live, what signs to look for and how to approach them, they can be observed in their natural environment and their behaviour can be studied.
Although the status of Otters in Britain has changed considerably over recent years, with the unrivalled combination of the highest densities and the easily accessible remote shorelines they inhabit, Shetland is still the best place in Britain to see, study and photograph these marvelously evocative mammals.
The Workshop
This species specific assignment focuses solely on Shetlands Otters. In addition to capturing images of these elusive creatures we will be covering the following
• Otter field skills; finding and reading the signs
• How to read and interpret otter behaviour
• Hone and improve field craft, essential when working with such shy animals
• Working within the otters environment; how to use the elements to maximise opportunities
The workshop will run for five days and consist of approximately six hours in the field each day. We generally find three hours either side of low tide to be the optimum time to maximise opportunities as otters are often at their most active. In the evenings we will delve further into the lives of otters with informal talks and presentations covering;
• The coastlines they inhabit; what is important for an otter?
• Otter ecology and behaviour
• Family life; trials and tribulations for a mother and her cub
• Using Bushnell camera traps to track otters.
This is a unique and often can be an emotive experience to study, learn about and photograph Otters in Shetland. Otters seem to have an acute nervousness- their elusive behavior is renowned. For this reason stringent consideration must be given to the following factors to maximize chances of encounters (and the quality of them) but most importantly to avoid disturbance to Otters such as; state of tide, knowing an active site, wind direction, planning your approach, maintaining a minimum profile and so on.
The geography and terrain must also be considered so as to suit a client’s ability. A reasonable level of fitness is essential as reaching some of the best locations and especially getting into the best photographic position will often mean clambering over uneven terrain and shorelines.
Led by esteemed Shetland Otter enthusiasts Brydon Thomason and Dr Richard Shucksmith this holiday provides an unrivalled opportunity to photograph Otters in Shetland.
The Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-ups and transfer to accommodation, the Shetland Nature Lodge. Afternoon/evening talk: Introduction to Shetland and its otters.
Days 2, 3, 4, 5: Gauge wind direction at first light and how it will affect intended sites to be used- out early morning in field working our regular shorelines and looking for Otters. Afternoon/evening talks.
Day 6: Gauge wind direction at first light and how it will affect intended sites to be used- out early morning in field working our regular shorelines and looking for Otters. Question and answer session, discussions. Evening meal and a well-earned beer.
Day 7: Transfer to airport for departures.
Accommodation
The base for the workshop is The Shetland Nature Lodge.
TO BOOK THIS WORKSHOP PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AND BOOK THROUGH SHETLAND NATURE
You can see images of Shetland Otters here
Typical Session
Maximum of 4 photographers. Both guides will work independently at separate locations so two guests will be with one guide each day and will rotate throughout workshop.