An early start

I sometimes forget that I have great opportunities to work with light, space and local species up the road. On clear mornings, the light and mist can be heavenly at my local nature reserve. The challenge I have set myself, is to look again at common species, and try to photograph them not just in a new way, but capture beauty in the scene and in the moment…

A common coot with a simple bull- eye composition

Swans on an early misty morning taken with an ultra wide lens

Canada goose using a low perspective and not being afraid to shoot direct into the light. I like the abstract shape the reflection of the sun forms around the bird and the warmth of the colours.

A royal bath

A beautiful, bright eyed male tiger rests during a warm evening at Tadoba tiger reserve, India. Tigers love water unlike most cats. and can often be found resting in small lakes and waterholes, especially April onwards. The temperature during this time can reach 45 degrees Celsius and is very challenging to shoot in, so its vital we have enough fluid and protect our skin.

I am always looking for the perfect reflection, so when the water is moving, sometimes it is best to take a burst of images in order to have the key elements in the reflection as clear and as distortion free as possible. Also, when the subject is stationary, I try to extract as much detail from the scene by shooting at the lowest iso, exposing to the right and keeping the camera and lens as stable as possible. This gives me a great foundation for processing and scope to enlarge images for prints and exhibitions.

77d, 800mm f8, 1/125th sec, iso 100.

People often ask me why I don’t sometimes include the tigers ears. The reasons are simple, it is an artistic choice as I am drawn to the beauty of markings, and the eyes of the species. I hope you are too…

Toned processing

I am really getting a feel for toned and fine art style processing on my images. The approach mostly seems to work when the image is relatively simple with few elements, and the subject is distinct. I’ve used a variety of methods to get the look am after utilising both lightroom, and especially photoshop to get the tonality I think suits the image. Here are some cheetah from yesterday, taken with the usual canon 400mm f2.8 and 1DX setup at a local wildlife park.

The 400mm f2.8

For a long time I had used standard telephoto lenses such as the canon 100-400mm zoom, the 400mm f5.6 prime. I had always adored the rendering of out of focus areas at 400mm, and how it enabled my subjects to pop. However I wanted more, so a few years ago I bit the bullet and acquired a canon 400mm f2.8 IS lens. The weight, price, size was all forgotten when I created my first images. The isolation, sharpness and speed of focus enabled me to further my creative vision.

Below are a couple of recent shots, one taken at f5.6 and one at f2.8, so you can see the difference, even at small image sizes.

Canon 400mm f2.8 IS @ f5.6, 1DX.

Canon 400mm f2.8 IS @ f2.8, 1DX.

Whilst in India, the lens allowed me to carry on photographing into the night. Whilst everyone else had to put their camera’s away, I was able to capture images of tigers with expanded pupils (due to the lack of light) and bring back some novel imagery. Combining with a full frame camera body gives me the maximum background diffusion and image quality and it will now take a lot to move me away from this set up.

Wildlife Photography Day

Hi everyone, I’m excited to be running a wildlife photography day at the MAC centre, details are below:

https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/wildlife-photography-cannon-hill-park

Clouds

Just for fun, some images of a beautiful clouded leopard taken at a wildlife park. The first time I had seen this species and they are unique and beautiful. All shot with the 1DX and 400mm f2.8.

A rich coat, full of pattern, texture and shape.

After a few yawns it was stretching time and finally some minutes of activity.

Proportionally, the biggest canines of any cat.

My favourite portrait posture which I have attained with most cat species.

The King of Fishers

A video of a lovely male Kingfisher hunting…

Colour, texture, pattern, beauty

A beautiful, regal male kingfisher perched in the sunshine. A 25% crop to show all the detail close up for those who view my work on mobile or tablet. This was taken during my hide days a while back, last spring. The morning was cold and wet, the river had swelled slightly due to recent rains reducing the likelihood of a bird arriving as the extra water makes it harder for them to fish. However, a double stroke of luck was to come, as the high pitched call sounded and the sun pierced the clouds for a few minutes, or even seconds. The male landed, surveyed the water below, and was gone before I could switch camera’s. A lovely encounter with one of Britain’s most iconic species.

Canon 5D mk iii, 800mm f11

A moving picture

I love kingfishers, they are one of my favourite bird species and I have been lucky enough to have spent countless hours in their presence. Some encounters are fleeting, as they assess the below lake for any signs of fish, some can last hours. Below is the former, but a lovely sight nonetheless.

Some more of my Kingfisher works can be found by clicking here

Feathers

Beautiful feathers of a Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Rules

I dislike rules in art, one such ‘rule’ is that the subject must be looking into the frame. Perhaps we risk creating formulaic compositions with such mindsets and philosophies…

Canon 1DX, 400mm f2.8, iso 100, 1/350th sec.

Snowy days

A freezing cold morning at Bradgate Park. Taken with the 1dx and the 400mm f2.8.

Tiger photography training @ ZSL

In order to photograph tigers well in the wild, I have been attending zoo’s from time to time to practice, as well as hopefully capture the spirit and essence of the cats.

I often leave my images for as long as possible before deciding what to process and show the world. The idea being you lose any emotional attachment to your work, and therefore can be more critical and balanced in what you decide to process.

However, today was one of those days where the best images were obvious:

1dx, 400mm f2.8, 1/1000th sec -1 stop exposure.

A high energy moment between the cubs, 400mm f2.8, 1/2000th sec, 1dx.

Somehow two minutes of play equalled 4 hours of sleep… 1dx, 800mm f5.6, 1/1000th sec, -1 stop exposure.

A moment to reflect, canon 1dx, 400mm f2.8

A mischievous moment, 1dx, 400mm f2.8

A light from heaven.

Long may they burn bright.

Little owl landings

A little owl lands at dusk. 1DX, 400mm f2.8, 1/60th sec.

Deer atmosphere

I do like to shoot back-lit to gain a particular look and feel…

Canon 1dx, 400mm f2.8

Echo of a wild fox

A beautiful winters evening, with the sun setting behind my local fox family. There was just the right amount of shade and highlights for me to bring out the lovely halo of fur created, by the sun and under exposing by a stop and a half. Images however are not about f stops, and exposure, they are about what you intend to do with these settings and the intent here was to create a warm feeling and show the shyness any mystery of one of the UK’s most loved mammals.

Canon 5D Mk III (silent mode), 400mm f5.6.

A freezing morning

An ice cold but beautifully lit morning at Richmond Park, London.

Canon 1DX, 400mm f2.8, 1/2000th sec.

Deer family

A beautiful snowy winter day at Bradgate park. The only option here was to hand hold the Canon 800mm f5.6 with the 1dx attached, as the Stag, doe and calf were together for only a few seconds…