David Boag

(1) The World of a Wildlife Photographer

This entertaining lecture spans 35 years of photography and takes us to 5 continents.    The questions I am most often asked relate to how I began - the commissions I have undertaken and the 18 books I have had published.   Also how I work and my views on equipment.   On the surface it follows the course of my career however, it is actually designed to be an encouraging inspiration for every level of photographer.   We touch upon the challenges of working in a strange environment and on subjects that are not familiar.  We see the value of attitude and enthusiasm.  The whole point is not to make wildlife photography a speciality for the elite but to make it available to anyone with enthusiasm and persistence.  (You may wish to read comments on the home page).

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(3) How to photograph wild animals

I guess that for many nature photographers the ultimate challenge is to photograph animal life in the wild. Whilst in the previous lectures I would have suggested a variety of creative ideas, in this lecture I am aiming more towards the practicalities. It is a particularly difficult subject to discuss because every species is different and have different attributes. However, I can give lots of good advice and suggest many ideas that make achieving impressive pictures possible. From bears to butterflies, underwater to in-flight - contrary to popular belief very little is beyond the ability of an enthusiastic amateur.   

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(5) Photographing Wild Flowers

Inherently beautiful, flowers are designed to attract attention.    Therefore many photographers seem content to use the flowers natural appeal but fail to put any of their own creative imagination into their images.     Every trick in the book, every lens in your bag and every photographic technique can be used to set your flower images apart and add to their interest.    As part of various commissions, I have photographed flowers all over the world.    In theory flowers should be easy but it practice they can hold a lot of challenges but the results can be very rewarding.   If you think all flower photographs are the same then you need to enjoy this lecture that is packed with interest, ideas and encouragement.

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(7) pursuing perfect wildlife images

When I was a boy my father once described my work as being “all right”.   “Only, all right,” I complained.   He tried to explain that if something was “all right” then there was nothing wrong with it and if there was nothing wrong with it, then it must be perfect!    Maybe!   But is perfect good enough, or is perfect only ‘all right’!  Is there is more to an image than being perfect and it is at this stage we move into the realms of creativity, interest, imagination and emotion.   I will show you images that are arguably perfect, but they are boring.  We will then explore ways to inject that missing factor. Even the most experienced photographer needs inspiration, ideas, an injection of enthusiasm & encouragement.

(2) photographing nature more creatively

 This lecture was created as a follow up to ‘The World of a Wildlife Photographer”   During that previous talk I touched upon so many things that stimulated interest and that re-enthused people, that many clubs requested I return to talk more about my approach to photographing natural subjects.   It is aimed as an inspirational lecture that enthuses and encourages the audience to develop more creative ideas.   It is for any photographic ability and the whole point is not to show images that are very difficult to achieve, but to show great shots that almost any club member could do with enthusiasm and effort.   I think that it shows some of my more interesting  photography and, as the title suggests, it is all based around thinking more creatively and this lecture will certainly help.         

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(4) Classic Wild Landscapes

After family and friends more pictures are taken of landscapes than any other subject but so often the results are disappointing. In fact a beautiful landscape image is not an easy photograph to achieve.  A good sub-title for this lecture could be that there is more to a landscape than meets the eye!  In this lecture we will look at a variety of landscapes or habitat pictures and whilst enjoying the scenery we will draw out of it various features that we can use to improve our photography.  Whilst almost any camera can be used for an appealing landscape we can consider using it in a different way.   I have also created a more interesting style of image presentation.

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(6) Capturing the environment

There is a category of photography that has always been important to me but doesn’t seem to fit any particular genre.   I have often needed to illustrate where my animal subjects live or where particular flowers grow.  Most don’t live in vast landscapes with wide views into the distance but rather more intimate settings.  Perhaps they live in a secret corner of the wood or in a rock-pool on the beach.  In am calling these habitats or environments.   To illustrate many of my thoughts we will spend time in the woodland.  Then later, we will expand those thoughts into other areas to include beaches, moorland, etc.   This lecture is informative and inspirational for beginners and experts alike.