Chairmans Blog

May 2nd

The joys of modern communications.

I ordered some memory cards for my camera on- line which came by parcel force. No one was here to sign for the small package so they were handed into our local post office.

March 16th

Yesterday I attended the Scottish Police Wildlife Liaison Conference at the Police College at Tulliallan.

February 20th

Many gamekeepers and stalkers will be having a well deserved rest after spending some very long days and nights working throughout the season and there is only a small window before it starts all over again.

SGA photography competition - a Pheasant display wins it!

The winner of the SGA’s photography competition is John MacTavish, a gamekeeper from Loch Nell Estate near Oban with his stunning shot of a displaying pheasant.

Mr MacTavish, who used one of his own pheasants as a model for the winning photo, wins the fantastic prize of a top of the range Leica camera from Ffordes Photographic of Beauly.

John currently uses a Canon EOS 1D Mark III camera, a professional tool which he clearly utilises to stunning effect. Occasional work covering shinty matches and other sport for the local paper, the Oban Times covers the cost of his gear and lenses, and until a few years ago he was also heavily involved in photographing motor sport, but it reached the point where his hobby was in danger of eclipsing his main job.  

“Being a keeper is what matters to me, and this job gives me the time to do all the other things I enjoy. I have to keep the photography in check, but it’s great to win this prize. I’m absolutely delighted,” he added.

The winning picture in this year's SGA Photography competitionJohn explained that he always carries his camera around and regularly gets great shots of wildlife on the 2000 acre low ground wooded estate where he puts down 2500 pheasants and partridges. He added: “I visualise a shot I want then I go out and try to come back with that image. That’s how it worked with the pheasant photo.”

Ffordes Managing Director Steve Byford said the picture showed technical ability.  “It shows moment but retains sharpness and the subject was highlighted due to the blurred out of focus background. I really liked the shot.”

Not surprisingly deer featured strongly in the great selection of entries. There were stags and hinds in winter snow and autumn sunshine, standing alone, in herds and a few on the backs of ponies on their way home to the larder.

We are hoping to be able to repeat the competition again next year, so keep snapping over the summer and winter, and remember that we need high resolution pictures if they are going to be used for the calendar or for publication.