Featuring the Shimoda Action X40 in the Arctic Circle

I'm Monica Doshi, a UK based retired doctor, mother of two boys and most importantly, enthusiast photographer. I love spending time going out to create images with my camera, mostly taking photos of wildlife, some landscape, some travel and some sports. Most of my photography is within the UK and I travel in my camper van to various parts of the UK to explore the wildlife there and to take photos.

Cheetah siblings taken on a Safari in Kenya

During my childhood I loved everything to do with wildlife - reading about it, watching animals and birds and even writing stories about various species I had seen. I repeatedly pestered my dad to use his camera when we visited zoos to the point where, when I was 7 years old, he bought me my first camera, a point and shoot film Kodak. I then pestered him to take me to zoos! However, my real photography journey commenced in 2014 when I started to take photos of my sons in their sporting activities. And guess what? People seemed to like and use my photos! I also joined a photography club where I started to learn more about my craft. Things progressed and in 2018 I attended the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast as an official photographer which proved to be a fabulous experience. Despite this amazing opportunity I was always destined to photograph nature, combining my two passions of wildlife and photography.

Peaty going for gold at the Commonwealth Games 2018

Over the last few years I have enjoyed various successes in competitions. I have twice been a finalist in BWPA 2023 and 2025 (I have a photo in book 11); Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2024 (photos will be in the book soon to be published); International Bird Photographer of the Year 2025 and 7th Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2021. I have had over 300 acceptances to international photography exhibitions and won over 50 awards in these including several medals. I have been recognised as being excellent in photography with the Federation Internationale d’art de Photographie and have a Distinction with the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. I sell my photos and print and mount them myself. Alongside going out with my camera, I give photography talks to photography clubs around the country which I enjoy and have been very highly rated. I am a judge for internal camera club competitions.

Gannets Affirming Bonds - Shortlisted for BWPA 2023

As for equipment, I use Rollei tripods; Sony cameras and lenses, a voigtlander macro lens, and I carry my equipment in Shimoda bags. I bought my first Shimoda bag in 2019 at the Global BirdFair. I had read a feature on Shimoda bags and, knowing that there were petite interchangeable straps for women, I made a beeline for the stand. The attention and advice I received was superb. I bought the bag and it was the first bag I ever had that actually fitted me and was comfortable to carry. From then on I was hooked. I upgraded a couple of years ago and now have the Shimoda Action X40 v2. The v1 is still going strong and continues to be used by a friend. I have since acquired the Carry On Roller V2, the Top Loader and the Urban Explore 25 in boa. The roller is great for travelling, can be carried on with most airlines. I put my empty action X40 in my hold luggage then when I have arrived just transfer the core module from the carry-on roller into the action X40 for use. The top loader is handy for when I am just going out with one body and lens and I have fitted it with a Shimoda belt for convenience. I use the urban explore in town and is a great bag that does not shout “I have loads of expensive gear in here”. It has some lovely features like the hidden valuables pocket and AirTag pocket. One beauty of these bags are that the core units are interchangeable.

Passengers on a train, taken when visiting family in India

So why Shimoda? Out of all the bags I have tried I find Shimoda bags the most well thought out and designed bag I have ever used. I love the flexibility in fit options and for my small 5’1” size 8 frame it is the only camera bag that has ever comfortably fitted me. It easily holds all my gear, is properly (and I mean properly) waterproof. Even the zips don’t let water through and it can be reproofed easily at home. My bag is so robust in protecting my gear. I have used it in extreme cold (-25 degrees C within the arctic circle and Hokkaido) and heat (32 degrees C in India and Gold Coast); it has been sand blasted (in a sand storm in the Falklands); dropped and scraped on rocks and survived a snow storm in the Cairngorm mountains! I use other Shimoda bags. I use the roller bag which is great for travelling through airports. I put the Shimoda top loader for going out with just one body and lens (I carry this on my waist with a Shimoda belt) and sometimes the Shimoda urban bag for when I am in town. As for the future, my plans are simply to go out enjoying taking photos of wildlife and whatever else takes my fancy, to continue to be successful in competitions, to continue giving talks about my photography and to progress as a judge for the PAGB. 

Keep up with Monica's work and find out more about her photography talks over on her Instagram and Facebook page.