From the Museum and Back Again: My Journey to Wildlife Photographer of the Year

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been completely enamoured with the natural world. From watching David Attenborough documentaries on my TV as a child to being fortunate enough to travel to some of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, my appreciation for the environment has only deepened over the years.

I was blessed with a set of parents who understood the importance of instilling an appreciation for the outdoors and, whilst I definitely begrudged them ‘forcing me’ to accompany them on country walks during my teenage years when I could have been playing video games, I had a childhood filled with memorable adventures and escapades. Despite growing up in a small town in Essex, we would constantly take trips to the county’s coast as well as into London to visit my nan - where we would often venture to green spaces such as Kew Gardens, London Zoo, Barnes wetlands or to St. James’ Park. Despite growing up in a decidedly urban environment I quickly became obsessed with learning the differences between local bird species and was lucky enough to be greeted by red deer, Indian peafowl and ring-necked parakeets right on my doorstep.

I failed to ever give my primary school ‘dreams’ of becoming a vet or zookeeper a chance of coming to fruition and I instead took up a career in secondary school teaching of physical education. It is a job that I have absolutely loved but one that does not marry particularly well with my love for the outdoors - although I did launch the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme within my school and have led school trips to both Kew Gardens and Barnes Wetlands, which were pretty cool, ‘full circle’, personal moments having visited this spots as a child myself. Alongside my teaching career I continued to develop my affinity for nature and one yearly event that I would circle on my calendar without fail would be a trip to the Natural History Museum in London to appreciate the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) exhibition.

The WPY is universally known as the pinnacle for wildlife and nature photography, with a small selection of the world’s very best photographers being awarded and, subsequently, exhibited at the museum’s yearly showcase. I had a very comfortable childhood but the prospect of travelling on a long distance holiday was something we never could justify, nor achieved, and so the WPY became my gateway into life outside of my little piece of London, and what a totally mind blowing experience it was. For a boy who had never ventured outside of Europe seeing some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife species captured beautifully by some of the most renowned names in the business was absolutely awe inspiring. I saw images of species I didn’t even know existed, learnt about the plight of some that were on the brink of extinction and witnessed some of the animals I had seen in London captured in imaginative ways that seemed implausible. Every year I would return to the museum, marvel at the 100, specially selected, exquisite images on display and every year I would depart thinking about how much of an amazing, wholesome experience it must have been to have been the person behind the camera in those moments. Then, after a visit to the WPY in 2016, I left with the same appreciation but also with a slightly different viewpoint - why could I not be the person behind the camera? Granted I had absolutely no experience of photography as a medium (my C grade in GCSE Art & Design was about as far as my creative side had progressed) but the only thing I was lacking in giving it a go was a physical camera. A few weeks after visiting this particular WPY exhibition I purchased a DSLR camera, a Canon 1200D, and so started a lengthy, self-taught, learning experience that would see me win awards, visit over 30 different countries worldwide, have my images published in books, magazines and on calendars. It’s been a journey I’ve loved every second of, one I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I am writing this piece whilst on a plane, returning to the UK from another trip that saw my camera make up a part of my hand luggage. My photography journey has been one of endless joy but, as I close in on having owned a camera for 10 years, one accomplishment has remained out of reach - being awarded in the WPY. Given that it was this competition that provided the inspiration for me entering the world of photography, I could think of no better way to celebrate my journey than getting a single photo into the WPY exhibition. Seeing it displayed on those hallowed walls, side by side with the legacy of all those images I had been to see in person myself, would be nothing short of magical. I am certainly aware that this is an achievement that I might not ever accomplish but it is one, that from this point in time, I am going to try my best to make it a reality. I am hoping that you would like to join the ride as I write about, and snap my way through, the journey of a lifetime - From the Museum and Back Again…

Grey Heron (London, UK) - Canon 1200D, Canon EF-S 55-250mm @ 229mm, f/5.6, 1/320, iso 400.