Robert Thompson’s interest in natural history began during his childhood explorations of a large parkland estate where he grew up. He is a professional freelance natural history photographer and author with a number of well-known publications to his credit on natural history and nature photography. He has also been a major contributor to many other natural history publications in Britain and Europe. He is widely acknowledged as a specialist in close-up and macro photography and was awarded a Direct Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society for his work in the field of macro photography. He also sits on the Royal Photographic Society's Natural History Advisory Panel for their distinctions and is also a Fellow of the Irish Photographic Federation.
As an active conservationist, he has worked on a number of high-profile natural history recording projects in Ireland for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, National Parks and Wildlife Service in the Republic of Ireland and television. He has a particular interest in dragonflies, butterflies and moths. His work is widely published in the UK, Ireland and internationally. He is a frequent writer and contributor to the photographic press and other natural history publications and has had several solo exhibitions of his work including the aerial landscape collection from the highly acclaimed 'Natural History of Ulster'. His work has also been featured in Nikon Pro magazine and has worked with Nikon UK. You can order prints of Robert's images here.
Robert Thompson / Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) head detail, Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. May.
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Robert Thompson / African golden emperor moth (Gonimbrasia krucki), close up of male head , Kenya, Africa Controlled conditions.
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Robert Thompson / Taiwanese squeaking silkmoth (Rhodinia verecunda) controlled conditions.
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Robert Thompson / Green-veined white butterfly (Pieris napi) head detail, Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. May.
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Robert Thompson / White-ringed atlas moth (Epiphora mythimnia) portrait, Kenya, Africa
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Robert Thompson / European common frog (Rana temporaria) swimming, Brackagh Moss NNR, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
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Robert Thompson / Male Spanish moon moth (Graellsia isabellae) close up of forewing eyespot, Switzerland.
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Robert Thompson / Saturniid moth (Aurivillius triramis), Laraganga Mole National Park, Ghana, Africa
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Robert Thompson / Tulip (Tuplia species) close up of anthers, Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland.
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Robert Thompson / Yellow stagshorn fungus (Calocera viscosa) Tollymore Forest, County Down, Northern Ireland, September.
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Robert Thompson / Buprestid jewel beetle (Anthaxia hungarica) on Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) flower. South of Casteil, Pyrenees Orientales, south west France. May.
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Robert Thompson / Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) Brackagh Moss NNR, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. May.