The Emperor
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002018
I pre-conceived this image late last year whilst researching the behaviour of ring-tailed lemurs ahead of a shoot. I wanted to capture a head-on portrait that showed off the distinctive facial patterns of the species.
It quickly became clear that capturing the image would be tough; these animals do not like anything or anyone getting close, especially to their head.
The image would require me to invest time and emotion in gaining the groups trust. Then maybe I could get close enough to one of the members to capture my image.
I finally captured it — they are so iconic, yet so rare.
The Thinker
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002022
Honour
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002020
I am acutely aware that, for many people, the flaming is all about their rosy-pink feathers, and therefore a series of flamingo works would be missing something if there wasn’t a slight nod to this famous characteristic.
I’ve learnt through many failures that the feathers can quickly become overwhelming, especially if photographing a flock. The key is to focus on a single bird, or two — that allows for a degree of intimacy and emotion, whilst also including the colourful plumage.
After trying for a few years, I think I have finally mastered the recipe; this photograph includes the right measurement of visually arresting feathers, and an equally important dose of emotion. I love the detail of the feather structures.
There was really only one title for this work — Honour — which is the symbolisation of the feather.
Serenity
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002020
Like many artists, I am often asked which photograph is my favourite, and my answer is always different. I can either go with the easiest (and truest) option which is that I am yet to take my favourite, or I can select one from my portfolio. If I choose to go with the latter option then it is almost always a different choice — I simply don’t have an image that standout to me as a favourite, I love them all for different reasons. Serenity however, may change that; I love the composition, the glint in her eye, and the magical light, I actually get quite emotional when I look at it.
The title was probably the easiest I have ever decided upon. She looks completely serene, and I also felt completely serene when taking it. After many years of bullying and exiled due to autism, these moments of serenity are extremely special.
Eden
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002020
Sense of place is important to any photograph, and working in black and white can sometimes make it tricky to convey that sense of place. The obvious way to do it would be to include the water that she was stood in, but I don’t like taking the obvious route, that often results in generic pulp.
I noticed that she was stood amongst some weeping trees, and this presented a special opportunity to frame fauna with flora. Photography is often about taking risks, and we took one with this shot — the leaves could have ruined the impact of the bird, and the light could have engulfed her in shadows.
It came off quite well, and she looks beautiful stood in the Garden Of Eden. Mother Nature really is breathtaking.
Innocence
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002020
I began working with flamingo in 2016, when I planned to conduct a year-long project, which would result in a collection of fine-art photographs. Four-years on and my love for these beautiful birds continues, probably stronger than ever, and the project has never ended… and I’m not sure if it ever will. They are unique creatures, and a pleasure to spend time with.
The central-premise whenever I turn my lens towards the flamingo is to capture their emotional energy, and highlight a personality which is so often overshadowed by the vibrant colours of their feathers.
This portrait is simplistic in appearance, but has a complex depth of emotion and soul. The eye was key to the image — I knew if I could get the head against a shadowed background it would really highlight the eye. After all, the eye is the entrance to the soul.
Heart Of The Flock
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002022
Entwined
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002020
Flamingo are widely recognised as monogamous, meaning they choose, and stay with, one mate for their entire lives. The social structures within a flock are complex, and W birds very much rely on one another — they even mate at the same time, so that all chicks hatch at the same time.
I wanted to capture their special bond in a single frame, but flocks can contain up-to several hundred birds, and the resulting imagery would be messy, and lack any sense of intimacy, so I needed to focus on a pair of birds.
I dedicated an entire four-hour shoot to this image, and observed the pair for a considerable amount of time before I nailed the final image. I think it’s a special image that offers an emotional glimpse into the intimate bonds these creatures share.
Four
Price range: £250.00 through £1,150.002021
Excited to share this new flamingo work from a couple of weeks ago. My ever-growing flamingo collection is a body of work that means so much to me – I feel so at ease when I am in the company of these birds, and thus I always gravitate towards them.
This was taken on the new Nikon Z7II, and it’s increased sensor size and dynamic range make it the perfect camera body for my work with flamingo. When I received the camera recently, the flamingo was the first animal I saw through it’s viewfinder.