There’s something special about being close to mammals, whether they are predators or prey they both have very keen senses. Stalking an animal in its own environment, getting close enough to take a frame filling image, it’s a very rewarding feeling. Many look at a long lens and say ‘you must be able to take photos from miles away with that’ but that couldn’t be farther from the reality. To see the detail in the eye or each individual hair requires being much closer than a hunter with a high powered rifle, this makes wildlife photography much harder than hunting.
A constant throughout the summer months - the Brown Hare
Broc the Badger, I've spent many hours watching them at different locations, they always bring a smile to my face.
They joy that seeing a Fox brings me is hard to quantify, even the smell of fresh scent marking on a crisp morning makes me happy to know there is one in the area.
An introduced species to the UK - the Chinese Water Deer, it looks like a Teddy Bear.
A coalition of four Cheetah's, the fourth one out of shot to the right, I can't help but compare the behaviour of big cats with my own pet ones.
Elephants caught my heart while in Africa, I had never really paid them much attention until I saw the herd behaviour, I'm a big fan of them now though.
The realities of wildlife, everything has to eat, whilst its sad for the prey I don't believe in just showing the majestic side of the animal kingdom.
The shot that most photographers will have in mind when they go to Africa, a male Lion at Sun rise/set.
I did say I was a fan of Elephants now didn't I.
Another Broc, I spent almost a year photographing them in the woods using flashes, this is from a different Sett that was in the open.
A young Hare that still hasn't grown into its ears yet.
An adult Tiger in India, its amazing how an orange animal is able to slip away amongst the grasses.
Learning the behaviour of animals through observation is key to getting close enough for frame fillers. I look for patterns in behaviour, a regular route, a preferred perch or a favourite feeding area, learning this means I can get into a better position to take some photos. Every animal has a personal space, a safe area that they won’t allow a potential predator, me, inside. In order to get into this area I use concealment, through the clothing I wear or the habitat I am in, often a combination of them both.
