News Flash... Winner of the Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year 2012 !
http://www.scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/2012/2012winners.htm
Please scroll down for some examples of my work - please enjoy...
but if you don't see what you require then please contact me on
01463 731110 or 07535536993
or e-mail me: charlie@charliephillipsimages.co.uk
2013 is the Year of Natural Scotland - Click HERE to go to the VisitScotland website
I work from my wife Susans Aurorabearealis Art & Craft Studio
Main Street,North Kessock IV1 3XN
Click on the link below for details of 2012/13 Art, Craft & Photography Workshops
All photographs © Charlie Phillips All Rights Reserved
Hard at "work" with Canon EOS 1D MK111 + Canon 400mm F2.8 IS Lens
I've used (and still do) a lot of Canon Equipment over the years including
Canon 1D MKII, MKIIN & MKIII, 7D, MKIV, and lately the fantastic IDX
+ 600 mm F4 IS, 400mm F2.8 IS & 300 F2.8 IS & 70-200 F2.8 IS Canon Lenses.
For Wildlife Friendly Holiday Accommodation Please See Bottom of Page.
Moray Firth Bottlenose Dolphins...
Most of my WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) work is with the resident population
of dolphins in the Moray Firth, Scotland. Read my online blog about my work with the
Bottlenose dolphins that you can adopt through the
WDC Adopt a Dolphin scheme www.adoptadolphin.com/blog
I also "Tweet" about my dolphin work Follow @adoptadolphin
All these images are of wild, free dolphins.
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin & calf (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin calf (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin somersaulting (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin baby breaching (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin & salmon (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin & salmon (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphin & salmon (Tursiops truncatus)
Watching dolphins from the beach at Chanonry Point, Black Isle
The Science behind the photographs....
Photography became part of my job as Marine Mammal Interpretation Officer at the Dolphin and Seal Visitor & Research Centre at North Kessock.
To understand wild animals and explain their lifestyles to the general public - especially marine mammals such as seals and dolphins, it helps if you can get to know
your local characters - who, especially in the case of our local wonderful bottlenose dolphins - can be recognised by natural marking on the dorsal fin.
If you can obtain good, detailed matching photos of these marks (a research method called mark re-capture) you can be pretty confident that you are seeing the same animals,
as the chances of two animals having exactly the same markings is highly unlikely. If you see me at Chanonry Point or North Kessock, I may be taking photos of the fins,
but if dolphins start to get energetic, then I take these dynamic images too. Most people know me through my dolphin photographs and the Dolphin Research Centre.
They often ask me if I get bored taking photos of dolphins... Silly question really!
Dolphin I.D. (Identification) photos
(How we tell dolphins apart)
Fin showing scratches and nicks - this is "Rainbow" ID# 31
All these nicks and marks make each dolphin unique - this is "Mischief" ID# 23
Scientific studies of these beautiful animals is a long term and ongoing process, led by Professor Paul Thompson and the team
from the Aberdeen University Lighthouse Field Station based at Cromarty. The Lighthouse collate the identification catalogue that uses some of my pictures.
Visit the Lighthouse website and have a look at the very best research into the Moray Firth dolphins and the marine environment.
I am delighted to be working alongside these dedicated people.
www.abdn.ac.uk/zoology/lighthouse
Over on the West Coast of Scotland at Gairloch, a great ongoing research project about Harbour Porpoises started by a friend of mine has
continued to be a leading example on how careful boat based research and wildlife trips that the visitor to the area can enjoy, can and should be done.
The public are invited onboard the MV Starquest to enjoy the knowledge and the care and attention of Ian French, marine biologist and wildlife expert.
To experience the amazing wildlife and scenic beauty of this area then please contact Ian's wife,
Samantha French at their harbour-side office in the Wester Ross village of Gairloch, Tel: 01445 712636 or visit their website.
Apart from research, good photographs can also be useful to illustrate audio/visual presentations and can be used as an educational tool.
I work with the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society, (WDCS) on their Scottish Dolphin Team as Dolphin Field Officer,
supplying images and writing articles for their Adopt a Dolphin Website - a great way of getting dolphin and other wildlife issues across
and also a good way of letting people have a glimpse of the beautiful countryside and animals that I work with every day.
For a season, I was part of the management team of the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay, www.wdcs.org/wildlifecentre
which - apart from being a great Wildlife Centre, is now the Scottish Headquarters for WDCS.
Some of my images are available as cards and prints from here and various retail outlets.
Otters...
Otter (Lutra lutra)
Otter (Lutra lutra) with lumpsucker
Otter (Lutra lutra)
Otter Cub (Lutra lutra)
Otter with eel (Lutra lutra)
Otter with scorpion fish (Lutra lutra)
Otter (Lutra lutra)
Seals...
Grey Seal pup (Halichoerus grypus)
Grey Seal pup (Halichoerus grypus)
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Birds...
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Male Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey on Post (Pandion haliaetus)
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
White Tailed Sea Eagle (Halaeetus albacilla)
Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Gannet (Sula bassana)
Gannet (Sula bassana)
Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Wigeon (Anas penelope) at Sunset
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) on nest
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus)
Ever wanted to go on an expertly guided bird photography tuition trip?
Look no further than Marcus Conway (2012 Scottish Wildlife Photographer of the Year !) who runs Ebirder, great photographer and a really nice bloke too !
http://ebirder.net/default.aspx
Landscapes...
Tarbat Ness
Beauly Firth
Dunscaith Castle, Isle of Skye
Moody Light, Isle of Skye
Sunset Through Trees
Charleston, Ross-shire
Gairloch, Wester Ross
Callanish, Isle of Lewis
Findochty Harbour
Plockton - Wester Ross
Kessock Bridge - Inverness
Kessock Bridge - Inverness
Chanonry Ness, Fortrose
Chanonry Lighthouse - Fortrose
Chanonry Point, Fortrose
Isle Ornsay Lighthouse - Isle of Skye
Fearn Abbey - Ross-shire
Grieg Street Bridge - Inverness
Some Furry Things...
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Baby Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Pine Marten (Martes martes)
Pine Marten (Martes martes)
Pine Marten (Martes martes)
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Hind in snow
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Stag in snow
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Stags at Dusk
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Hinds & young at Dusk
Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)
Highland Cow (Bos taurus)
Huskies at the Aviemore Sled Rally
Clients Include:
Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum For Environmental Research
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society
Local, National and International Books, Newspapers, Websites & Magazines
Local Accommodation Businesses
Private Commission work a speciality
Please contact me - Charlie Phillips - to discuss prices and your requirements.
e-mail charlie@charliephillipsimages.co.uk
Telephone 01463-731110
Mobile 07881713702
Please become a member of The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) by clicking on the logo below and help
support vital research and conservation for all the worlds Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises - especially our amazing
bottlenose dolphins here in the Moray Firth. You can even adopt a dolphin!
Thank You and Best Wishes - Charlie Phillips.
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I am delighted to supply marine images to the Dolphin Space Programme
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Wildlife Friendly Accommodation...
This is an ever growing list of people that I know who have either Bed & Breakfast facilities or actual cottages to let for holidays.
Some are located on the Black Isle, an ideal place to be for dolphin watching. Others are a bit farther afield but are well worth travelling to.
Set in the stunning location of Elgol, Isle of Skye, Bob & Marieanne McMillan have a lovely house to let. Bob runs the great birding website www.skye-birds.com
and it's where you can find out about the holiday accommodation. As a location for wildlife and scenery it really doesn't get much better than this!
Ian and Elizabeth Ross have these lovely cottages on the Black Isle. A great country location and only a few minutes drive from Inverness
and a great base to have for dolphin watching holidays. North Kessock and Chanonry Point are the two nearest land watching sites for
watching our amazing bottlenose dolphins. You can also watch buzzards, red kites, roe deer and red squirrels out of the cottage windows!
Peter & Michelle Jansen offer luxurious accommodation on this elevated Black Isle location.
Just a few minutes drive to Chanonry Point, the best place in the whole of Europe to
see wild bottlenose dolphins only metres from the shore. A lovely, relaxing place and very nice people too!
Contact Sue Varley to ask about this high quality secluded accommodation. A great location for wildlife with pine martens, otters, red kites, deer and much more!
Set in the stunning Wester Ross location of Gairloch, our great friends Ian and Ann Birks have two cottages to let right at the waters edge.
They have all the comforts you will ever need and when you arrive simply throw your wristwatches away, time does not exist here!
Set at the waters edge in the lovely Black Isle village of North Kessock, Eilean Dhubh studio apartment is owned by Mrs Maggie Macdonald
and is a compact holiday home suitable for two adults, although there is room for two children.
North Kessock is a fantastic location for dolphin watching and other wildlife seen locally include seals, otters and ospreys. No smoking and sorry - no pets.
This superb AA 3 Star Hotel in the coastal town of Cullen has commanding views over Cullen Bay, a wonderful place to see dolphins, porpoises and Minke whales.
Contact Marjory, Jim, Simon or Douglas to book rooms or ask about the delicious food.
www.bedandbreakfastinverness.com
Also set at the waters edge in the lovely Black Isle village of North Kessock, Joan and Ian run the lovely White Cottage Tearoom,
serving great food and also have four en-suite rooms for B&B, 3 doubles and 1 twin. The website is great, go online and have a look. North Kessock is a
fantastic location for dolphin watching and other wildlife seen locally include seals, otters and ospreys.
Douglas and Kay Mitchell have this beautiful large house in the lovely seaside town of Nairn with geat views over the
Moray Firth (good chance of seeing dolphins) and is an ideal setting to base a holiday in the Highlands. Great beaches nearby as well as the Culbin Sands,
a fantastic stretch of intertidal salt marsh, boat trips, local shops and crafts and whisky distilleries nearby - what more do you want?
Ever wanted to live on your own island? Well now you can experience just that - staying in the cottage once owned by Gavin Maxwell
(Author of Ring of Bright Water) on the island Of Eilean Ban, under the Skye Bridge and a great place to spot Otters (naturally!)
Pine Martens, Common and Grey Seals and a host of other species. Contact Rachel at the Brightwater Visitor Centre in Kyleakin to ask about availablity.
Gavin and Araminta Dallmeyer have a lovely house set in 6 acres of land with beautiful views just past Kilmuir near North Kessock. Ideally situated to explore not only the
Black Isle and all that it has to offer but also maked a great base for exploring the rest of the Highlands and Moray. You can really spoil yourself here and have total relaxation.
Araminta, besides running the B&B, assists Lady Claire Macdonald of Macdonald with cookery demonstrations and is a very accomplished creator of memorable meals herself...
you could put on a pound or two here if you are not careful !
Mort and Barbara Mortimer have a beautiful house at Balblair on the Black Isle and will spoil you rotten with their 4 Star Bed & Breakfast, a few minutes walk from the Cromarty Firth
surrounded by the lovely local countryside - ideal for spotting Red Kites and Buzzards soaring overhead, a variety of waders on the shore and a chance of seeing seals and
possibly dolphins in the Firth or drive out to nearby Cromarty for a boat trip.