I can give talks within reasonable travelling distance of Glasgow. The talks listed below are mostly ready to go now. They mostly centre on my main interests of natural history, (especially ornithology) and photography. In addition, geography, geology and scenery and computing (in all of which which I am qualified and have taught over many years) can also be covered. Talks can be tailored to the requirements of the audience.
Recently, I have given talks to:
Groups will need to provide a digital projector, screen or white wall, electrical extension cable and video lead from computer, but I can usually bring a laptop.
The normal charge is £50 for a talk of an hour to an hour and a half, depending on what the group's normal programme is, plus travelling expenses if any distance from Glasgow is involved. I do not charge for talks to groups of which I am a member.
I normally bring a display of mounted pictures and greetings cards for sale. For this, I need a table approximately 6 feet long, or two tables would make an even better display. As an alternative, a bench or series of low cupboards along a wall would be fine.
| Cumbrae and the Firth of Clyde | Mainly on the birds of Great Cumbrae and the Firth of Clyde, but also some scenery. The photographs were taken mainly between 2000 to 2006, and include principally sea and shore birds, but also small birds, and some larger birds such as buzzards and geese, and some scenery and sunsets. |
| Falls of Clyde | Concentrates in the first half on the scenery, animals and plants of the Falls of Clyde SWT Reserve, and in the second half on the peregrine falcons which nest in the gorge of the Clyde. The photographs were taken mainly in 2003 and 2004. |
| Sanda |
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| Birds of Some Scottish Islands | - selected from Mull, Iona, Great Cumbrae, Little Cumbrae, Sanda, Ailsa Craig, the Garvellachs, the Isle of May and the Bass Rock. |
| Natural History Photography | This talk will concentrate on natural history photography, and with plenty of time for questions and discussion. It can be quite technical, or can be full of pretty pictures if that is what is wanted. |
| Digital Photography | This talk will concentrate on the transition from film to digital photography, emphasising photographic principles, and the ways in which digital is similar to, and different from using film. The idea is to help you to adapt to your new digital camera. |
| Computer Programs to help with digital photography | The role of jpgs, raw conversion software, Photoshop Elements or CS2/3, and PicturesToExe can be examined. How to produce a slide show with (or even better without) using PowerPoint. |
| Glasgow | Glasgow's geography and history in the second half of the twentieth century, and the first part of the 21st century, illustrated by my own slides, which have been scanned, and updated by some more recent digital photos. |
| Doon the Watter | Illustrated by slides taken from 1966 onwards, reflecting the changes in the landscape of the River Clyde and its environs over the past 40 years or so. Illustrated by my own slides, which have been scanned into digital format, and updated with recent digital photographs to illustrate the changes over the years. Emphasis can be on shipbuilding and industry, or more on nature, especially birds of the Clyde estuary. |
| The Cairngorms | This talk, given previously to the Seil Natural History Group, is based on Cairngorm wildlife and scenery, but also visits the Moray Firth for gannets at Troup Head and Dolphins at Chanonry Point. |
| Other possible topics | I'm working on various topics at the moment - please enquire for details, as the picture is constantly changing. Other possibilities include some scenery and geographical topics, all within Scotland, most of which will need slides scanned before the talk can be given. |
Tuesday 11th November 2008 - tutorial to the Glasgow Natural History Society about digital wildlife photography, in the Zoology Department, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow University, at 6.30pm. The tutorial will include information about photographic equipment and techniques which I use in taking and processing my photographs.
Tuesday 12th August 2008 - talk at Seil Natural History Group, Oban, Argyllshire. Topic - Wildlife in the Cairngorms. For details of the group, see the Seil Natural History Group website.
Saturday 8th March 2008 - Argyll Bird Club, Argyll Arms Hotel, Inveraray, about Ailsa Craig and gannets - 1.45-2.15pm, as part of an all-day meeting of the Argyll Bird Club. For details of the day's programme, and the many other aspects of the Argyll Bird Club's activities, see the Argyll Bird Club website.
Tuesday 12th February 2008 - Glasgow Natural History Society - tutorial about wildlife digital photography, 6.30pm - 7.15pm in the Graham Kerr Building of Glasgow University (Zoology Department). For details of indoor meetings, excursions and other GNHS activities, see the Glasgow Natural History Society website.
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December 2007- Craft Fair at West Kilbride Village Centre. On sale will be mounted and framed photographs, including A4 and panoramic sizes, and greetings cards. There will be many craft stalls of all types, and lunch is available in the cafe. Well worth a visit!
Monday 26th November 2007 at Mugdock Country Park Centre, at 7.30 - illustrated talk about photographing wildlife, with special reference to bird photography on Great Cumbrae. This talk is a part of a series of evenings once per month (on a Monday) during the year in the Centre's theatre, which has full audio visual facilities. On sale will be mounted and framed photographs, including A4 and panoramic sizes, and greetings cards.
Amongst species covered will be shore birds including waders, ducks and geese, herons, gulls, raptors, and passerines. There will be reference to the use of digital SLRs and suitable lenses during this talk. There is a charge to include refreshments at the interval. You need to book for this talk through Mugdock Country Park - 0141 956 6100 or by email to office@mugdock.org
Monday 22 October 2007 - Doon The Watter - Royal Scottish Geographical Society Travellers, in the Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow University, at 7.30 pm. This is one of three talks from RSGS members which will be given that evening. The talk uses slides scanned from trips down the Clyde in the past 40 years, and some land-based pictures as well, and updated with recent digital photos.
Wednesday 3rd October 2007 - Birds of some Scottish Islands - RSPB Glasgow local group, Woodside Halls, Glasgow, 7.30pm. The islands will be selected from Mull, Iona, Great Cumbrae, Little Cumbrae, Sanda, Ailsa Craig, and the Garvellachs. If there is time, some birds from the Bass Rock and the Isle of May could be included. Visitors and non-RSPB Glasgow Group members are welcome to the group to hear this talk or any other talk. There is a small charge at the door to include refreshments at the interval.
Thursday 10 May - Sunday 13 May 2007 - same as paragraph below
Thursday 12 April - Sunday 15 April 2007 - photoscot was involved in the photographic aspect of a wildlife holiday run by Wild Caledonia. Further information may be obtained and bookings for this may be made through http://www.wildcaledonia.co.uk.
Sunday 22 April 2007 - Photography Walk at the Falls of Clyde SWT Reserve - see walks and events page for details
Tuesday 6 March 2007 - photoscot.co.uk had a stand at 7.30pm at the Helensburgh and District Biodiversity Forum, in the Victoria Halls in Helensburgh. Photographs were on sale.