Q&A With Chris Gomersall

(Can a mod make this sticky)

I'm delighted to say that Chris Gomersall has agreed to do a Q&A with members of the POTN Bird Forum.

Chris is one of the UK's best known wildlife photographers and I'm delighted that he has agreed to do this. He was a staff photographer for the RSPB for 14 years and runner up in the 2002 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards.

I've promised him that I'd limit him to 10 questions and he doesn't want to get into the technical aspects of the camera or post processing. Basically he's happy to answer questions about being in the field and what works well for him.

So if you have a question put it here in a reply and in 7 days time I'll send 10 to Chris and he will answer. I'll then post the answers as soon as he replies.

BTW Chris uses a Nikon.

great job Damian!!!!

my only question to him would be what does he recommend for a good quick hide when taking pictures of shy birds. i am trying to find a good hide that will be quick to setup, does not attract too much attention from people and works well for the birds.

blonde wrote in post #2315704
great job Damian!!!!

my only question to him would be what does he recommend for a good quick hide when taking pictures of shy birds. i am trying to find a good hide that will be quick to setup, does not attract too much attention from people and works well for the birds.

Wish I'd thought of that question!

thats why i am here my friend

What is his most used bird photography setup (ie camera, lens, tripod, flash, etc) and what are his most used camera settings with that setup (ie ISO, approx shutterspeed, fill flash, etc)

dewmuw wrote in post #2315693
he doesn't want to get into the technical aspects of the camera or post processing.

in case people miss that..

I'm amazed this has got the lack of response that it has! Anyway, I'd like to ask Chris what advice he would give to any serious amateur bird/wildlife photographer who at some stage would like to make the switch to becomming a pro? Using myself as an example, I'm planning over the next couple of years to build up as large as possible portfolio covering various aspects of nature photography and over that time submitting to competitions and the like, trying to get as much coverage and in print as poss. Does he consider this a suitable route and can he offer any advice?

Thanks Damian for setting this up!

I would be interested in any wildlife stalking techniques that he uses that are successful.

I'd like to know what a pro thinks about feeding and even handling 'wild' birds, for any reason, not just to get a good shot.

i would ask what kind of nature shots he finds will sell to people or magazines.

dancinec wrote in post #2319402
I would be interested in any wildlife stalking techniques that he uses that are successful.

I second that question, especially concerning birds!

Always nice to get a full time nature photographers insight. I see his website does cover (broadly) his choice of equipment.

I also see he is active in arranging field trips ~ many tempting possibilities if you have the money & time!

Thanks for organising the "answers session" though I have nothing to add to the question list as yet.

I've been to Martin Mere a few times (no, I know that's not 'real' wildlife) and what I find difficult is controlling the exposure of plumage where there is a flash of white (the neck of a Mandarin is a good example).

Very often the rest of the bird is spot on, but the white flash looks 'blown'. What to do? Expose for the white flash and the rest of the composition looks like night. Expose for the rest of the image and you lose the detail...

(I asked this in another thread b 4 seeing this, sorry).

Some of the tours advertised on his website look very good indeed, I'm tempted by a couple of them!

OK so any more questions? 7 so far. I said I'd send him 10.