If I had a million dollars (or two thousand pounds)

Wildeye Bulletin

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First of all, news of an exciting new trip for 2009. As with all things with Chris Watson we expect places to go fast - so do let us know asap if you'd like to book a place...

Wildlife Sound Recording in Northern India with Chris Watson

A unique opportunity to record the rich sounds of the jungles of Northern India accompanied by experienced wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson.

Our base will be Camp Forktail Creek - a forest home surrounded by a dense Sal forest and moist jungles and the only ‘jungle’ camp of its kind within Corbett Tiger Reserve, offering exclusivity in game viewing, great walks and explorations on foot. Corbett National Park was the first National Park founded in Asia and being an excellent habitat for the Bengal Tiger, “Project Tiger” was launched here in 1973. Corbett is also rich in avifauna with counts of over 600 bird species.

From Camp you could get great sound recordings of Great Hornbill, Slaty Woodpecker, Oriental Scops Owl, Spot bellied Eagle Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Large Tailed Nightjar, Indian Cuckoo, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Cheetal, Barking deer and monkey alarm calls and if lucky a leopard sawing.

As can be seen at http://www.wildeye.co.uk/india.html, we have a fantastic itinerary planned with walks, game drives into various parts of the park, night expeditons, and, with luck, elephant-back safaris. Although the focus will be on recording wildlife and natural atmospheres there will also be opportunities to record the wonderful sounds of the people and villages of the area. As April is wedding time in the area we may get lucky with a wedding in the village or a prayer ceremony in a local temple.

Dates: Sun 29th March - Wed 8th April 2009

Costs: £1,990 per person. Includes international flights, all local travel in India, accommodation and full board (apart from expenses of personal nature like phone calls, postage, laundry, tips, alcoholic beverages)

Booking: To check availability contact: info@wildeye.co.uk
If places are available you will be asked to pay a deposit of £500 per person to secure your booking.
Places are strictly limited so early booking is recommended.

Wildlife sound recording with Chris Watson

I have had the pleasure of attending two workshops run by Chris Watson – one of the most respected natural-sound recordists around, and the choice of the BBC. He was also an avant garde musician of the 70s and 80s. And, he's lovely!

The first workshop was organised by the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth (well done Chris Potts), and the second was by the Wildlife section of the British Library Sound Archive (well done Cheryl Tipp).

So a lot of like-minded people met and talked and listened and learned and felt warm and fuzzy.

We all learned a lot of techniques and skills from Chris. The biggest benefit for me was the encouragement that you are free and perfectly entitled to go out, get gear, drive and walk out to a hide and record, edit, compose, and perform. You can do it all. There's no need to fear you aren't as microphone-minded as some, no need to fear the editing, no need to think you don't deserve a podcast or a public exhibition.

I've increased my podcast output a lot since the workshops, and that can only be good!

London Calling

Watcha!

Back again, this time from good old London town. As ever I'll make my excuses and promise a longer post soon – in this case on a fab natural sound recording workshop with the one and only Chris Watson.

In the meantime, some bits and bobs: 

• Virgin Radio is still IDing as Virgin Radio.
• There are new carpets in the centre block of Bush House
• London Chinese Radio has a studio on Camberwell Road, and will be web-streaming live from next week
• Maplin doesn't (seem to) sell skinny mic cable.