I guess I should mention that I am the collector who owns most of the images shown in this section of my website. I am most certainly interested in adding to my collection.
At the suggestion of my wife in 2000, "in order not to be bored" during retirement," I started photography with an SLR film camera. Having been a birder since 1975, I quickly homed in on birds as my primary subject. I also joined the Stony Brook Camera Club as a couple, letting Joan know after the fact that she was to be my partner in crime. And I quickly switched to a digital camera.
I belong to the Ansel Adams school of photography: use whatever you can to create beautiful images. Ansel Adams used double exposures, selective exposures during development, painting on film, and many more tricks; I use Photoshop.
Yes, I follow the rules about no modifications for nature photography competitions. But my favorites are often shots like the osprey to the left, a combination of one osprey photo and one cloud photo (to replace the dead solid blue background in the original osprey shot).
Joan used to make albums of photographs for memories. Not any more. Instead Joan and I collaborate on setting photographs and videos to music, creating forty-five-minute shows that we enjoy presenting at camera clubs, churchs, retirement communities, clubs, ... We like to share with others the beauty we see in nature and the world around us.
Yes, I have won first place in many competitions at my camera club (with 160 members). I have had images accepted in numerous international juried shows. I even won a Judge's Choice in the 2010 Greater Lynn International. I am proud of my bird photography, and my wife and I have fun photographing together. But when all is said and done, I know there are many more talented bird photographers out there. I am happy to be reasonably good.
You can reach Richard Shirley via email at dick@rshirley.com.