BAPLA Focus
We are looking forward to this year’s BAPLA Focus at the Museum of London Docklands on Monday 7th October.
It’s always a great event. There are lots of inspiring panels and updates on industry news, plus a great chance to network with other picture professionals. There are still a few days to book your place – ticket sales close on Thursday 3rd October.
Skilling up in Pictures
This year NPL’s Tim Harris will lead one of the sessions, entitled Skilling up in Pictures. This will take an interactive format with breakout sessions. So everyone will have a chance to audit their skills and get some tips on how to develop them.
We will kick off with an introduction from speakers Jacqui Wald, Editorial Director of Camera Press and Sarah Wells, freelance media researcher, giving an overview of how the skills they need have evolved through their career in the picture industry.
There will a chance for all delegates to contribute to this workshop, which will focus on 6 key areas of skills, so that they can take away some useful pointers that will help them to develop and grow their skills.
Presentation from Matt Maran – Shooting Foxes the Compassionate Way
Nature Picture Library is pleased to be sponsoring one of the sessions at BAPLA Focus this year, a photographer presentation from Matt Maran called Shooting Foxes – the Compassionate Way. Matt will show some of his recent images of Red foxes living near his North London home and reveal some interesting facts about their behaviour.
Thanks to Matt for allowing us to share some of his images and insights into the world of the London fox, as a taster of what is in store at BAPLA Focus…
Matt talks about some of his recent fox images
“Urban fox patrolling the streets of London. We hunted out all our large carnivores years ago but the fox remains. Somehow finding sanctuary in the city.”
“A tender moment between the dog fox and the vixen. Photographing this quiet moment between two foxes is a reminder that they are not the bloodthirsty, child-eating vermin some members of the press might have you believe. In my time watching and photographing fox families I see a highly intelligent, industrious and opportunistic animal surviving against all the odds.”
“What do you see? Vermin, a nuisance, or two animals connecting? We all want to feel connected, and that goes for animals too. I’ve witnessed copious amounts of connecting between all members of the fox family over the past two weeks. Dog fox to vixen, vixen to cubs and last years cub turned helper fox. It’s lovely to see but it won’t be long before tough love prevails and the vixen chases her offspring away to find new territories of their own.”
“This year I’ve was given the opportunity to try out the Lumix S1 mirrorless camera. It’s taken a bit of getting used to but I’m beginning to get good results and benefiting from its brilliant performance in low light with high ISOs. Here’s a shot of Mrs Fox in ambient light taking a pause from sleeping to keep her eye on the surroundings. ”
“Fox versus Rat. In nearly three years photographing just 10 minutes walk from from my home I had never previously seen this kind of behaviour. Evidence that foxes eat natural foods too (as opposed to our rubbish) and play an important role in the urban ecosystem, keeping rodent numbers in check.”
“Fox on doorstep at night. This image conveys something of the alertness and agility that are just two of the many skills the urban fox needs to survive in the city. The average lifespan is only 18 months with cars causing most of the deaths – something they still haven’t learnt how to deal with in their environment.”
If you’d like to see more of Matt’s work on London foxes, check out our new gallery!
