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!