Can you tell us the story behind your photo in this exhibition?
For this particular shot, I just went out as usual with my camera ready. This picture was taken at one of my favourite local places – river Anton near Andover. I was fascinated by a pair of swans which was building a nest, fiercely protecting any potential invaders. The wire stretched across the river meant that not all of the chased intruders escaped unscathed.
As I was born in central Europe – the barbed wire is somehow symbolic for me.
Did you use any particular equipment or software?
Camera Nikon D7100.
Lens Sigma 150- 500mm, Photoshop7.
A pair of wellies.
What are your favourite scenes, species or motivations behind your photographs?
I have not got a fixed idea as to what I am going to photograph when I leave the house. I am always prepared to be surprised and am grateful for little opportunities that offer themselves to me.
The basic criteria for a good photo is good light and composition. But to really feel happy, the photo needs to have a meaning.
What are the difficulties of wildlife and nature photography that you face?
Juggling between my day job and my hobby proves quite difficult at times. I try to cease every moment I have and go out with a camera. Other than that, I also find frustrating boundaries tackling the restrictions of private land: just as everything comes together: I have the subject, the perfect light, all I need is to tweak the angle or come a bit closer, the big private sign gets in the way. To set the record straight, so far I have always stayed within law.
What would you like people to think about when they see your work?
I think, just as with any other form of art, I would like people to come away with a knowledge that they learned, discovered something new for themselves. That all that they need to do is to look around them as there is a wealth of around all of us- even in completely plain things- whatever your particular interest is.
How long have you been a photographer and how did you get started?
My background is in the fine arts, with a particular interest in landscape painting. My passion for photography only really came into forth with the introduction of digital colour photography.
What would you advise someone wanting to start taking photos of wildlife or nature in their local environment?
Patience.
What projects are you working on now or have coming up?
One of my dreams is to capture the misty atmosphere – there is a picture that I painted in my mind: the perfect moment when balance between sun and condensation in the air results in a myriad of colours and only lasts for few seconds. This is my next challenge.
Other than that, I enjoy taking pictures of other photographers at work – peculiar creatures, contortionist aren’t they?