My interest in birds began in 2006 with a visit to the Broome Bird Observatory.  While I was there I participated in the cannon netting, volunteered to help with the mud sampling, and attended my very first bird call in the camp kitchen.  This is where my story began.

From a point and shoot Pentax, which captured so many memories of the BBO, I progressed to a Canon EOS R5 which I use today.

I have been a member of Birdlife Photography since 2014 and have found the resources that are available to members invaluable in my photography journey.

I live in Narrabri which is located in western New South Wales. I am fortunate that my husband, Innes, also enjoys birding and together we enjoy discovering new and exciting birding places in this wonderful country we call home.

I am now retired after spending my working life in an accountancy practice and at the same time being responsible for the financial side of our own small business. In accepting the position of Treasurer my aim is to work closely with Birdlife Australia to ensure the Birdlife Photography continues to have appropriate financial systems in place.

I am married to Mandy, with three adult children and ten grandchildren.

I retired five years ago after 37 years working in the financial services industry in senior and national management roles for various organisations such as the CBA,IOOF, AXA and AMP.  I was a Certified Financial Planner (non practicing) and held a Diploma of Financial Planning qualification.

In 1998 I developed a keen interest in open water swim racing and have competed in numerous races around the Victorian beaches . I have completed the Lorne Pier to Pub 14 times and am an active member of the Peninsula Pirates local swim club.

I was also an active member of Australian Junior Chamber and was Chapter President a number of times and in 1995 was elected Victorian President.  I have been awarded life membership of Australian Junior Chamber and International Junior Chamber, for services to the organisation.

I developed a passion for photography when I bought my first digital camera in 2001.  Birds didn’t figure in my interest until I attended a half day photographic tour in Alaska.  The lady leading the tour was a very enthusiastic bird photographer and as a consequence the bug bit me.  I joined BLP six years ago and this has been the single biggest influence on improving my skills and knowledge as a bird photographer.  I have found friendship and knowledge within the BLP community with many members being prepared to help me over the journey.

I now feel it is my turn to give back to BLP by joining the Committee.

My wife and I have retired in Adelaide after living in Mt Gambier for 39 years.  I was a partner in a large dental practice.  It was here that we raised our triplet daughters and had many opportunities to enjoy the natural environment of the South East.  The focus of my interest and photography was ground orchids so I walked about the scrubland with my eyes looking down.

It was not until my third African safari that I began photographing the African birds.  My interest turned to Australia's birds and my wife and I began a quest to photograph as many species and subspecies as possible.  Over the last five years all of our travels have had a focus on photographing new bird species.  Membership of BLP has helped me to discover good birding locations and influenced our travels.

The technical information regarding post processing that is on this website has been of great benefit to me and I wish to contribute in some way to keep BLP moving forward.  I use a combination of DPP4, Lightroom and Photoshop to process and catalogue my images.

I use Canon equipment and have a 1Dx mark 2 with 500mm prime lens.  I often use a 1.4 extender and either a monopod or tripod with gimbal head for stability.  The favourite scenario is to find a waterhole and setup a portable hide and sit and watch and photograph.  I am fortunate that my wife is very keen on bird photography as well and we can enjoy the hobby together.

I was born and grew up in what is now Zimbabwe.  I attended university in Cape Town, South Africa for undergraduate and postgraduate studies, and came to Australia with my young family in 1981 to take up a PhD scholarship at the Australian National University, Canberra.  Upon completion of my PhD I joined the Australian (ie Commonwealth) Public Service, retiring at the beginning of 2017.

I have a MSc and PhD in inorganic chemistry, and was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2014.

I worked in the Australian Public Service from 1984 until the end of 2016.  During the 1980s and 1990s I worked in Departments dealing with science and technology policy, education policy and industry policy.  From 1996 I worked on a broad range of policies and programs in the Department of Communications (in its various iterations), dealing with communications issues, with a particular focus in the later part of my career in broadcasting and media policies.  

I live in Canberra.  I enjoy birdwatching and bird photography, and frequently travel back to Southern Africa to pursue these (our favourite destination is Namibia, which my wife and I have visited many times over the years).  I joined Birdlife Photography in 2017.

Photography has been a keen interest since childhood but bird photography didn’t really figure prominently until I got my first DSLR in 2013 - the year I joined BLP.  My knowledge of birds has grown rapidly since then and I enjoy greatly getting out with the birds but I consider myself a photographer first.  More generally, I’ve had a life-long passion for nature and the natural world.  This also led to involvement in environmental activism during my university years in the 1970s and early '80s in Queensland.

I joined the BLP committee in 2016 and took on the role of launching and managing the BirdLife Australia Photography Awards in 2018 and continued in that role until 2020. My involvement with the competition continues in a support role. I am also a moderator on the BLP website and regularly engage with members to assist them to develop their skills. Other contributions to BLP have included a variety of articles on aspects of bird photography and image processing, several instructional videos and two presentations at the BLP Bienniel Conference in 2019. International photography achievements include commendations in Bird Photographer of the Year (2017 and 2020) and selection for final judging round in Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2020, 2021, 2022). I was made a life member of BLP in February 2022.

Gary and his wife Kerry (A great bird spotter) are originally from NSW but have resided in Hobart since 2001 where they are now retired. Gary first degree is in Forest Science (ANU) and he has a Masters degree (by research) in Natural Resources (UNE). The post-graduate degree had a wildlife management focus. Gary has worked in forest management and forest research in NSW, Tasmania, New Zealand, Nepal (twice), Bhutan and Vietnam. He has published research in both national and international scientific journals and conference proceedings He was formerly a member of the Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team and the Wedge-tailed Eagle Recovery Team (Tas.).

Gary’s interest in birds has been lifelong starting with keeping and breeding Australian finches as a boy through to assisting with bird surveys for environmental assessments and now that he has more time trying to see and photograph as many of Australia’s beautiful birds as possible. Photography has been a growing passion, particularly over the last 10 years. He also enjoys landscape photography on his travels chasing but not harassing birds.

Gary first joined the BLP committee in 2017 then left the committee in 2020 to take on the Competition Coordinator role until the middle of 2023.