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White Tailed Eagle by Simon Carder
Japan's Winter Wildlife Simon Carder
An interesting presentation with some great advice on exposures in tricky conditions!
07/11/2025
Japan, as a travel destination, is not a familiar one for most of our members, so Simon Carder’s presentation this week was interesting for all of us on several levels. With close family ties in that part of the world, Simon makes the most of his frequent visits there to develop and hone the skills he has in wildlife photography. Whilst the initial focus of his talk was on a range of migratory birds seen in Japan that typically we are now beginning to see more of in the UK, Simon’s main presentation more closely reflected his presentation title: “ Japan: Winter Wildlife”.
Simon skilfully used a combination of maps, images and narrative to ensure that we went on the journey with him across the four islands, and that we knew exactly where he had captured the stunning images. We were treated to monkeys bathing in hot springs in a snowstorm north of Tokyo as well as swaggering Swans and dancing Cranes on one of the main islands, Hokkaido, in a series of high key images that will certainly challenge us all to be more creative!
On Rausu, where the floating sea ice upon which they live is rapidly declining, Steller Eagles and Blakiston’s Fish Owls were the order of the day, often portrayed in motion with the blur of experimental slow shutter speeds which demonstrated his panning techniques. Whilst we got glimpses of the beautiful Ezo Red Foxes and Sika Deer, it was the Hooper Swans that dominated the images from the 26 km long Notsuke Peninsula, and the caldera basin in which Lake Kussharo nestles.
Simon clearly explained his creative use of light and exposure in the full range of his images, and since the exif. data was clearly displayed in his presentation, those of us that wished to could note them, and ponder at will!
We all appreciated the quality Simon’s work and the informative narrative that he had prepared. We look forward to welcoming him back again knowing he has so much to offer!
David Bathard is next on our agenda with his presentation entitled “ The best of India”
Jenny Short
07. 11.2025
Simon skilfully used a combination of maps, images and narrative to ensure that we went on the journey with him across the four islands, and that we knew exactly where he had captured the stunning images. We were treated to monkeys bathing in hot springs in a snowstorm north of Tokyo as well as swaggering Swans and dancing Cranes on one of the main islands, Hokkaido, in a series of high key images that will certainly challenge us all to be more creative!
On Rausu, where the floating sea ice upon which they live is rapidly declining, Steller Eagles and Blakiston’s Fish Owls were the order of the day, often portrayed in motion with the blur of experimental slow shutter speeds which demonstrated his panning techniques. Whilst we got glimpses of the beautiful Ezo Red Foxes and Sika Deer, it was the Hooper Swans that dominated the images from the 26 km long Notsuke Peninsula, and the caldera basin in which Lake Kussharo nestles.
Simon clearly explained his creative use of light and exposure in the full range of his images, and since the exif. data was clearly displayed in his presentation, those of us that wished to could note them, and ponder at will!
We all appreciated the quality Simon’s work and the informative narrative that he had prepared. We look forward to welcoming him back again knowing he has so much to offer!
David Bathard is next on our agenda with his presentation entitled “ The best of India”
Jenny Short
07. 11.2025