NORTHWICH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY by David Boot

John Barlow DAPGB gave an excellent presentation at this month’s meeting on Wild Bird Photography, subtitled ‘Birds on Sticks’. John has been a bird watcher for 42 years and originally used his mother’s Kodak Instamatic with only a one in ten success rate. He only took up digital photography about five years ago and says that he has learnt much more about birds as a result.

John carefully orchestrates his images. He chooses a suitable background and perch to enhance the appearance of the bird he has chosen to capture digitally. He showed images of a range of home-made perches using sticks and stones adorned with mosses and leaves. Once the scene has been set John baits his trap with meal worms to encourage the birds to appear.

When the birds are used to the set-up John waits patiently for hours on end sometimes until he finally gets his shot. It was a wonderful evening of both bird watching and photography. See his website www.jrbarlow.co.uk for pictures.

For details about Northwich Photographic Society and to view a gallery of photographs visit www.northwichphotographicsociety.co.uk. The site also includes contact details and the programme of meetings.

Visitors and potential members will be made welcome at the Society’s meetings which are held on Thursday evenings at the Castle Community Church (formerly the Methodist/United Reform Church), Beeston Street, Castle, Northwich, from 8pm until 10pm.