Recently I was awarded the 2017 Advanced section Silver Medal (sharing this honour with Tim Van Leeuwen). It is something that I am very proud of and it caused me to reflect on my passion for bird photography.

I started when I was in my mid-sixties, so I came late to bird photography. While I was familiar with birds, the technical aspects of image capture and post processing were daunting challenges. I believe now is an opportune moment to thank some people who have been instrumental in helping me - not just a little bit, but a lot. The first is Glenn Pure, who has been generous to a fault in tutoring me and encouraging me. The second is someone I have never met - Ian Wilson. I read Ian's articles, and his detailed advice to others, in the Critiques Gallery with great attention. I am nearly always rewarded with an item of information or a nugget of advice that is worthy of consideration as I try to improve my images. Tim Van Leeuwen has also been an enthusiastic sharer of information and encouragement.
Finally I would like to say thank you to two people who do an enormous amount for BLP: Graham Cam and Rob Parker. As a technical facility, the BLP site is excellent. As a world leader in providing a comprehensive framework with excellent standards for ethical photography, the BLP site is unique.
regards
Con

No need to thank me Con, it is a pleasure to share whatever knowledge and experience I might have that you find useful. Sharing knowledge and experience underpins learning and progress in many fields, especially photography where people with limited technical training can find themselves trying to understand unfamiliar concepts and complex equipment. To become a good photographer it is essential to have a basic understanding of photographic science and with my professional background I feel a responsibility to help where-ever I can.

I share your observation regarding the BLP website and would like to add the name of Dave Torr our brilliant web designer.

Congratulations, Con, for your Silver Medal in the Advanced Level And also to Tim. It would have taken a lot to have wrenched the Gold from Ian's grasp!

Thanks for you mention of my work on the website; Dave and I are very proud of it, and we aim to keep it at the forefront of ethical bird photography sites.

Rob

Many thanks Con - I'm happy to help where I can and glad you find it useful.

I also second your thanks to Ian Willson, Graham Cam and Rob Parker, who all - along with Dave Torr as noted by Rob - make a truly great contribution to BLP.