How I began...

I began looking at nature photography by researching nature photographers. I looked an many photographers, but these are a few of my favourites.

Ch'ien C Lee photographs nature in Southeast Asia, mainly in Borneo. Ch'ien studied photography while at school and has always considered it an excellent method to convey ideas and share his fascination about natural subjects encountered during his travels. His hobby became a professional endeavor in 2003. "Borneo is a fantastic place to live if you've got an insatiable interest in nature. It's easy for a photographer to get spoiled by the overwhelming diversity of subjects every time you're out. Of course working in the tropics presents some real obstacles for photography, but it's always worth the effort."



 I like this image as he has managed to capture the monkey actually looking at the camera. Many wildlife photographers capture their subjects in motion, but Ch'ien has taken a portrait image. I like how the colours are all similar, creating an image that is almost slightly mundane. The animal also doesn't really have an expression on it's face, which is one of the reasons this image intruiged me. It made me want to find out more, about what the animal was thinking or going through in its life.

This image contrasts the image above, as it shows the subject in movement. This image elicits emotion as it has captured a baby turtle about to go on a long journey in the sea. I like the way shutter speed is used to make the image more dramatic, as the sea looks more active, almost creating a little sadness as you wonder if the little turtle is going to survive in the rough sea.

Nick Brandt originally directed music videos, for example Michael Jacksons 'Earth Song'. It was while directing these videos in Tanzania that he fell in love with the animals & land of East Africa. He became frustrated that he couldn't capture his feelings on film, so moved to photography. Wildlife photography is usually captured in colour, but Brandt shoots in black and white; without telephoto or zoom lenses. Nick comments ''You wouldn't take a portrait of a human being from 100 feet away & expect to capture their spirit, you'd move close.''

 

I particularly like the rhino image, as the reflection in clear, so it looks almost like the rhino is looking in a mirror. Brandts images are interesting as the placement of the animals is very central, simplifying the image. The brown tinting of the images also gives them an african tinge, making them very authentic.
Brandt doesn't try to fill his images with action or drama like many other wildlife photography, he is interested in showing the animals simply in the state of being, 'before, in the wild atleast' they cease to exist'.

 
Steve Bloom is different again, he trys to capture movement an action. The lighting in his images is interesting as it manages to highlight the animals specifically, making the image much more striking.





I particularly like this image as the angle increases the size of the elephants, which emphasises their strength. The fact that the way these animals are interacting through fighting, rather than in a friendly manner also accentuates the intesity of the image.