I first started taking photos 1959 when I used to follow motor racing, taking many spectacular photos of crashes - it was exciting and I loved it. I purchased 36 exposure film and would take my photos and only when I had taken all 36 pics, not a shot less, would I take the film to the local chemist to be processed. I’d then have to wait a whole week to see the results when I went to collect them and paid my money. A week! Now I only have to wait seconds to see how my photographs turn out. Back then my camera was a Zenit, which was made in Russia, but it served me well. After a few years I stopped taking pictures to concentrate on my family but I was also a very keen angler and I won many fishing matches. I was even on on television and radio and was captain of the Division One National Team for fifteen years. At one point I even broke the record on the River Trent for the biggest match weight ever caught - it was 109lb and that’s a big fish I can assure you. I was also successful in my working career, being on the Board of Directors at Wimpey Homes where I was Production Director. Then, about twelve years ago, I bought a new camera - a Sony A1 - and started to learn all about digital photography. I started photographing everything with no real direction or purpose so I decided to join Wolverhampton Photographic Society. I entered the competitions they held and submitted mainly landscapes, portraits and wildlife photographs. At the end of my first year I progressed from being a Novice worker to Advanced and in 2014 I entered and passed the CPAGB awards for photographic merit, so now I have letters after my name! Today, I have moved-on to concentrating on wildlife photography which I find to be extremely challenging and rewarding.

Photographs on this page are Copyright © Jim Gear

Barn Owl

Bullfinch & Goldfinch Fighting

Fighting Goldfinches

A Winter’s Walk

Field Mouse

Kestrels Kissing

Butterfly

Unique Image of a Goldfinch Fight

Kingfisher

Diving Kingfisher