Can you tell us the story behind your photo in this exhibition?
I took this photo a few years ago before I lived in Scotland. I was on a walking trip with a friend and we were staying in Kintyre, Argyll & Bute, Scotland for a week or so. On our first night there was a really great sunset where I was snapping away getting shots of the coastline when I noticed the thrift lit up by the setting sun. The shot means a lot to me as a year or so after taking the photo I started in my first professional job in conservation and the spot where the photo was taken became ‘my patch’. I was chuffed when I heard it would feature in the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017.
How did you go about getting that shot?
The conditions were perfect for photographing the sunset. I took plenty of images of the clichéd shoreline with a long exposure to blur the water but it was these delicate flowers that really caught my eye. I composed it to have the mountains of Jura in the background and took the shot.
How long did you have to wait for this shot?
It was quite an opportunistic shot really. I was trying different compositions of the shoreline and the setting sun for a good half hour or so and then as I was setting up from a different position I noticed the ‘lanterns’. Of course with plants you get the benefit of being able to take your time to set up your shot.
Did you use any particular equipment or software?
No fancy kit just my Nikon DSLR with an 18-105mm lens and Manfrotto tripod
What are your favourite scenes, species or motivations behind your photographs?
I can’t say that I have favourite taxa or scene to photograph. I am a keen birdwatcher but tend not to focus on just photographing birds. I am quite opportunistic and tend to photograph whatever subject presents itself. My starting point is usually to pick wildlife rich places and go from there. I love visiting the Cairngorms and the majestic Caledonian pine forests. But if I had to pick a place the West Coast of Scotland and the Argyll Islands are my favourite places to be with a camera in the UK. Great biodiversity on land and at sea and breath taking scenery.
What are the difficulties of wildlife and nature photography that you face?
As with most photographic subjects these days wildlife photography is highly competitive. Good equipment is accessible to everyone and the interest in the field has grown and grown. In addition, the pure volume of photographic content has increased with the rise of social media and advertising. People are subjected to photographic imagery in all aspects of life. This makes it very difficult to stand out from the crowd and of course make a living. For that reason, I admire anyone working as a full time professional wildlife photographer.
That said, photography, and video increasingly so, has a crucial role to play in engaging audiences in conservation issues and getting others to safeguard the natural world. So, could the rise in wildlife photography indicate that more people are engaged and care about the environment than ever before? I couldn’t possibly conclude but I do think in general it should be seen in a positive light. With that in mind I shall continue to use my skills to share the beauty of the natural world and encourage others to connect with it too.
What would you like people to think about when they see your work?
I would hope that people see that the natural world is outstandingly beautiful and are encouraged to connect to it. I would also like to hope that I am introducing new audiences to species, habitats or landscapes, which they would not otherwise have known existed and that in doing so they are inspired to care for the environment.
How long have you been a photographer and how did you get started?
I grew up with a strong interest in wildlife, particularly bird watching, regularly visiting my local WWT reserve. My Dad is a keen photographer and his interest rubbed off on me. In my teens he gave me one of his Canon film cameras to get started. Later I progressed into using a bridge camera, which was ideal for photographing distant birds. I then got my first DSLR for my 21st birthday and immediately bought a telephoto lens to begin documenting the species I could see near my home and on my travels. Now, well over 10 years since, I am still out and about most weekends with my camera.
What would you advise someone wanting to start taking photos of wildlife or nature in their local environment?
Get outdoors and always carry your camera. I know it’s a cliché but you never know what you’ll see when you go out in the field. I would also recommend getting to grips with your equipment by photographing subjects you know well or have easy access to. That way when you encounter something extraordinary you are well prepared to get a shot of it. Most important though, don’t let the pressure of trying to get a perfect shot detract from the experience of seeing the wildlife in front of you. Sometimes the conditions just wont be right and you’ll come away with nothing but remember why you are taking the photograph in the first place, because you love wildlife! Appreciate every precious moment you get to share an experience with another species.
What projects are you working on now or have coming up?
In my day job as a conservationist I am currently working on a number of landscape scale conservation projects. I hope to use my photography to promote the habitats and species the projects are aiming to protect. I shall also continue using my photography to capture wildlife and landscapes at home and on my travels and use them to enthuse others about wildlife and conservation via my social media channels.
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