British Ecological Society Summer School

Event Photography: British Ecological Society Summer School at Malham Tarn

I recently worked with the British Ecological Society (BES) as a documentary photographer during their annual summer school, a week-long residential field experience for students studying sciences at A-level, Scottish Higher, and equivalent qualifications. This year, 31 students from seven schools across the UK gathered at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales to explore ecology, fieldwork, and environmental science firsthand.

I photographed one day of the programme, providing an overview of the day’s activities while creating marketing and social media material for BES. The focus was on capturing students engaged in fieldwork, discussions, and outdoor learning, showing both the educational content and the immersive nature of the experience.

Documenting Fieldwork and Student Engagement

Even within a single day, there are many moments that illustrate the value of hands-on ecological learning. One highlight was the nature walk led by Dr. Daniel Forman, lecturer in Biosciences at Swansea University. Although I had walked the same route previously as part of the Pennine Way, Dr. Forman’s insights into the local ecology and species interactions offered students—and my photography—a new perspective on the landscape.

Photographs captured students observing habitats, taking notes, and interacting with instructors, emphasizing curiosity, engagement, and teamwork. These images help convey the hands-on learning experience to audiences who could not attend.

The Importance of Professional Photography for Educational Programmes

High-quality photography is essential for educational initiatives like the BES summer school. Images from even a single day:

• Provide marketing material to promote future programmes

• Document student engagement for internal review

• Show the collaboration between students and instructors

• Support social media, newsletters, and press coverage to demonstrate programme impact

Capturing these moments professionally ensures that BES can showcase both the learning outcomes and the immersive, field-based nature of the summer school.

Malham Tarn: A Unique Field Site

Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales offers a diverse ecological setting, including wetlands, limestone landscapes, and surrounding habitats. Photographing students in this environment demonstrates how fieldwork brings theory to life and provides unique learning opportunities. Images from the day highlight the interaction between students, instructors, and the environment, which is central to BES’s mission.

Conclusion

Documenting one day of the British Ecological Society summer school allowed me to capture the energy, curiosity, and engagement of the students while providing BES with professional material for marketing, social media, and archival purposes. Working alongside expert instructors like Dr. Daniel Forman made the day both professionally and personally rewarding.

For more information about the British Ecological Society and their educational initiatives, visit britishecologicalsociety.org.

British Ecological Society Conferences

Event Photography: British Ecological Society and Society for Tropical Ecology Annual Conference | McEwan Hall, Edinburgh

I recently photographed the joint annual conference of the British Ecological Society (BES) and the Society for Tropical Ecology, held in the magnificent McEwan Hall in Edinburgh. Covering conferences like this is always fascinating, and it can be a challenge to balance listening to presentations with capturing key moments for documentation and promotional purposes.

The photographs provide an overview of the event, highlighting the diversity of attendees, the atmosphere of the sessions, and the architectural grandeur of McEwan Hall. Capturing these moments visually helps illustrate the importance of the conference as a space for scientific exchange, networking, and engagement with current ecological research.

Capturing Academic Conferences

Event photography for academic and professional conferences requires attention to context, detail, and storytelling. I focused on capturing presenters during talks, delegates engaging in discussions, and the overall environment of the hall. These images are used for marketing, social media, and post-conference reporting, providing a visual record of the event that complements the written proceedings.

Documenting conferences also allows for the dissemination of the event’s energy and significance, giving future participants and collaborators a sense of the professional and social interactions that define such gatherings.

McEwan Hall: A Historic Backdrop

McEwan Hall in Edinburgh provides a dramatic and inspiring setting for conferences, combining historic architecture with modern event functionality. Photographing within this space adds visual interest, framing the attendees and speakers against the grandeur of the venue while highlighting the professional nature of the conference.

Conclusion

Photographing the joint BES and Society for Tropical Ecology annual conference offered an opportunity to create a visual record of scientific collaboration, lively discussion, and academic engagement. These images communicate the scale, professionalism, and atmosphere of the conference, providing valuable content for the societies’ marketing, archives, and social media.