Gavin Maginness

I am a chef by trade and served in the Royal Australian Airforce for 34 years until I was medically discharged with a back problem in 2004.

As I was unable to work anymore I got bored and needed something to fill my days with. I tried modding computers as well as building and fixing them for a while but that got too much. I even designed and created my own website but it seemed no matter what I tried it was never challenging or creative enough to keep my interest. I always been interested in photography but never had the time. After being discharged I had all the time I needed but not being able to move around much limited what I could photograph.

I had expressed a desire to raise a bird and last year I was given a parrot to hand raise and since then I have become very passionate about birds and in particular parrots. They are so very intelligent, with time and patience, you can teach them to do anything and I have plenty of both. I now have a reason to get out of bed in the morning because my friend needs attention. He needs to know he is loved and has someone who cares about him and wants to spend time with him. In fact we both need this interaction.

Teaching a bird to talk and to do tricks is a never ending challenge and joy. When we learn a new trick or a new word it’s fantastic. I did mean to say we because we are both learning something completely new. I firstly have to learn how to get him to do what I want before he can learn how to do it.

I now have a full day. I need to spend quality time with my friend, to teach him to talk, teach him some new tricks even make him some toys and I also have something to take pictures of. I want to share my passion with you and let you see how beautiful nature is.

I am by no means a great photographer but I make do with what I have and that’s:

New Addition a Canon EOS 50D,
Canon EOS 350D,
Cannon 18-55 Lens,
Cannon 75-300 Lens,
Canon 24mm Lens,
Cannon 50mm Lens,
Canon 100mm Macro Lens
Canon 65mm Lens (5x Magnification)
Tokina Fisheye Lens,
Pheonix x2 Doubler
650-1300 Telephoto Lens with Doubler
A Velbon QHD-61 macro tripod
A Manfroto 055XPROB Carbon Fiber Tripod
A Manfroto 804RC2 head.
A Manfroto 405 Geared head

♦ ♦ My Featured Works – I Thank All The Groups Concerned ♦ ♦