A Focus On Nature, Advent Calendar, Now for Nature
AFON
Ben Locke to NowforNature – Katie Horrocks
Welcome to our 2016 Advent Calendar series (#AFONAdvent)! This year, our theme is “The Gift of Inspiration”. For each day, one of our members has written a blog post about someone who has inspired them, and how that inspiration has lead to them being where they are today. Each member is a shining example of a young person who is acting Now for Nature. We hope that you enjoy the series and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
When I found out the theme for this Advent series, I thought long and hard about who would be my hero. Yes I think that there are people more famous in nature than the one I have chosen. However, the person I have chosen has helped me come a long way.
Ben Locke (c) Ben Locke
So my hero that I have chosen was, and may still be, a wildlife photographer/ cameraman for BBC Springwatch. His name is Ben Locke. I first met Ben while I was out in the Forest of Dean at Crabtree Hill, and I was walking to find the great grey shrike which was there. We bumped into him on the way, we stopped and had a long chat and he gave me his details so we can keep in contact. Ever since the day, we have been in contact and he has given me such kind words which has kept me going.
Adder (c) Ben Locke
European Badger (c) Ben Locke
Pine Marten (c) Ben Locke
The reason I chose Ben is that he proves that even if you don’t know what you want to do in life you can achieve some great things, which he has done. He has worked for BBC Springwatch and is mostly known for his wild boar photos. Even though I don’t know what I want to do in the future, this has inspired me to keep up my hobbies – photographing birds and wildlife.
Wild boar (c) Ben Locke
In school, I had to do a speech on my inspiration and out of the whole lot of people, I chose Ben. Everyone loved his work and I managed to get a good grade. It also boosted my communication skills at the same time, as I was nervous to do this task, but I knew that I would make Ben proud and he was always there when I felt worried before the day. He has always been there for me whether it is about animals or personal stuff.
I have recently just saved up for a new camera (Nikon d500) and I am very pleased with it. I wanted this camera as it has a big storage so I can take photos and it also has the function of video so I can give filming birds and wildlife a go which I had never thought of before I met Ben. I have also entered a few competitions where I have entered my photos, and have proven to be a success I have been in the final of the wildlife photographer of the year twice and have won Longleat photo competition where I got the day with Simon King.
Ben and I often send each other our photos, and he has helped me develop some of my skills. We have planned to visit the Forest of Dean as I’ve yet to see a wild boar. I have also given a talk to my old Girl Guiding pack about my photography, in the hope that they will be inspired to give it a go. Even though I have done a talk to my class mates, I was still really nervous and I had told Ben about it. He had helped me through it and said how far I had come from when we first met.
Red Squirrel (c) Katie Horrocks
Snipe (c) Katie Horrocks
Red Fox (c) Katie Horrocks
Leave a Reply