7TH NOVEMBER
On Thursday, the 7th November, Tenby Camera Club welcomed Dr Julian Cremona for a much anticipated return visit. Julian, based here in Pembrokeshire, is a naturalist and biologist with excellent photographic skills. Head of Dale Fort Field Centre for many years, he is now retired but he still writes interesting books and gives fascinating talks. A confident explorer of countries, Julian brings to life unusual and interesting wildlife, with exceptional knowledge.
His presentation skills are rare indeed, capturing with photography and with words the uniqueness of nature and how wildlife adapts to the environment it habits. His talk was also dotted with anecdotes of events which made the trip special , interaction with people, vehicle travel and, of course, the difficulty in seeing some of the elusive species!
The Journey we were taken on started in South Africa with images special to the reserves there . A flight then took Julian and his wife to Madagascar where the extraordinary journey through one of the poorest countries in the world began. Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world and lies off the SE coast of Africa. It may be poor but it is stunningly rich in unique animal and plant species. Travelling through beautiful landscapes, into villages where local people though poor, were talented in crafts and life skills .
With guides, Julian explored many of the isolated areas of desert, rain forest and coast, discovering lemurs, reptiles, amphibians and birds . Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot with over 90% of it’s wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. The photography was inspiring to see, with species with beautifully coloured, textured, fur, skin or feathers , adapted in size, many previously unseen. Unfortunately the island’s diverse ecosystem and unique wildlife are threatened by development and other environmental threats. Julian explained the difficulties he had with the photography capture. The animals were often well disguised, high up in the forest canopy, in poor light. Birds very unpredictable and fast, insects fleeting and alert .
Julian commented how kind and helpful the people were, staying in a mixed variety of accommodation travelling on tracks between towns, cities and to villages. An interesting insight into a society very different to Pembrokeshire. A very appreciative thank you to Julian was given after a lively question and answer session.
Next week on the 14th November Tenby has Tony & Betty Rackham and their talk An evening with 2 fellows of the Royal Photographic Society.
His presentation skills are rare indeed, capturing with photography and with words the uniqueness of nature and how wildlife adapts to the environment it habits. His talk was also dotted with anecdotes of events which made the trip special , interaction with people, vehicle travel and, of course, the difficulty in seeing some of the elusive species!
The Journey we were taken on started in South Africa with images special to the reserves there . A flight then took Julian and his wife to Madagascar where the extraordinary journey through one of the poorest countries in the world began. Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world and lies off the SE coast of Africa. It may be poor but it is stunningly rich in unique animal and plant species. Travelling through beautiful landscapes, into villages where local people though poor, were talented in crafts and life skills .
With guides, Julian explored many of the isolated areas of desert, rain forest and coast, discovering lemurs, reptiles, amphibians and birds . Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot with over 90% of it’s wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. The photography was inspiring to see, with species with beautifully coloured, textured, fur, skin or feathers , adapted in size, many previously unseen. Unfortunately the island’s diverse ecosystem and unique wildlife are threatened by development and other environmental threats. Julian explained the difficulties he had with the photography capture. The animals were often well disguised, high up in the forest canopy, in poor light. Birds very unpredictable and fast, insects fleeting and alert .
Julian commented how kind and helpful the people were, staying in a mixed variety of accommodation travelling on tracks between towns, cities and to villages. An interesting insight into a society very different to Pembrokeshire. A very appreciative thank you to Julian was given after a lively question and answer session.
Next week on the 14th November Tenby has Tony & Betty Rackham and their talk An evening with 2 fellows of the Royal Photographic Society.