These photographs were  taken 37 years ago, a time when film photography was king,   at the time I was using Olympus 35mm OM-1, film camera with a 200mm lens & a 2x-converter after some time I moved up to medium format a Bronica ETRS with a 200mm Zenzanon F/4.5 and a 2x teleconverter.   It got me closer, but with the converter, you could see the loss of quality in the images, The images I captured at  that time Were still good. Notable among my work are the publications in Amateur Photographer, where I featured subjects  Barn Owl,  Kestrel, Redstart, and more. All my work back then was done with flash and with an ISO of 64 and an aperture of f/16 I had no option dew to the low light conditions.  

Back then some of my work was concentrated at the nest site, today there is no need to do this as technology has advanced significantly, revolutionising the field of bird photography new advanced cameras equipped with faster autofocus systems, enhanced image stabilisation, and improved low-light performance have made capturing stunning shots easier than ever before, photographers can now take high resolution images with remarkable detail, even from a distance, features such as silent shooting modes allow for discreet observation,   minimising disturbance to the birds using the lowest ISO settings available,   at the time was essential to capture a sharp image, but this often resulted in compromises on exposure and shutter speed, as I have  already said focusing in daylight was not a problem but when it came to night photography now that was a different kettle of fish, the most important peace of equipment for photographing Owls at night for me was an inferred beam, the camera I was using for my Owl photography was a Bronica ETRS, 6 4.5 format there was a fitting I could of got for the inferred-beam that would connect straight to a motor-drive  but that was like starting a car engine,  far to noisy for Owl photography at night,  a good friend of mine who's job was a toolmaker kindly made me a device that would connect to the tripod and was wired up to the inferred-beam  so when the beam was Brooke  it would trigger the solenoid I found from a old door bell that was fixed to the device and hit the shutter setting off the camera and flash, what I found was very exciting is,   if you could just imaging yourself in the hide at night in total darkness,   not a sound except from the Owls caling one another,   then after a while suddenly the beam is Brooke, the solenoid hits the shutter, setting off the flashes, then everything is lit-up for a split second.  Wow this was pulsating stuff and It made me jumped very time.

However, despite these technological enhancements we have today the fundamental aspects of bird photography remain unchanged. Patience is an essential virtue; waiting quietly for the perfect moment can often yield the most rewarding results. The bird's behaviour and natural habitat dictate the success of the photograph and this understanding cannot be replaced by technology.

Moreover, respect for wildlife is paramount. Maintaining a safe distance, avoiding invasive practices, and prioritising the well-being of birds are crucial considerations. Technology may provide the tools to capture the beauty of birds with unparalleled clarity, yet the core values of patience and respect remain integral to the art of bird photography.