A DALE wildlife photographer has been awarded an international photography society’s highest accolade.
David Williams, from Barnard Castle, received a fellowship distinction from The Societies of Photographers in January in recognition of a portfolio of 20 pictures of birdlife in Teesdale.
The photographs formed part of a book he produced for Barningham Estate in memory of the late Sir Anthony Milbank.
Mr Williams said: “Taking, selecting, processing and printing the required images was a time consuming and difficult task to get suitable images to the standards required.
“It is very gratifying to have my work recognised as being of an acceptable standard – especially as all the birds can be seen within a ten mile radius of Barnard Castle.
“It is nice when someone you don’t know from Adam looks at it from a technical and composition viewpoint and says what you have done is good. It makes you feel you are not totally wasting your time.”
Using natural light, all of Mr Williams’ photographs were taken from portable hides or by sitting and waiting in appropriate locations to catch the different species in a variety of behaviours, activities and show how they blend, or otherwise, with their habitat.
The photographer was awarded the society’s associate distinction for nature photography in 2009.
Society chief executive Phil Jones said: “The fellowship distinction represents some of the finest images our members create which have then been assessed by some of the world’s best photographers. Congratulations to David.”
