70108

Originally from the UK, I began my travels at the age of 17 and, by now, I've lived many more years in other countries than I have in the country of my birth. --------- Moving to Thailand in 1990 was undoubtedly the most fortunate decision I ever made, as it immediately triggered a string of love affairs each of which having grown stronger over the years: firstly with the country, Thai people and their culture, then a few months after my arrival I discovered to my delight Khao Kheow Open Zoo (KKOZ) in Chonburi Province, about a year or so after that I finally met up with my soulmate, who then introduced me to our beloved daughter some seven years later …... soon as the midwife had won the battle and torn the nitrous oxide canister and mask away from me ;^) --------- In 2010 we found ourselves in a better financial position than we'd ever been in before, and my wife agreed this was the time for me to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a professional wildlife photographer, and what amazing support she's given me ever since. --------- Unlike most of the wildlife photographers I admire so much, I wasn't given a camera at a young age, in fact I didn't even own a proper camera until I'd arrived in Thailand at age 27, and with the exception of the occasional visit to KKOZ since 1990 and the enchanting Kenyan safari we enjoyed back in 2006, I was pretty much starting from scratch around October 2010 learning what I could from books and practical experience. --------- Over the course of the next six months I travelled to many of Thailand's beautiful national parks and visited a number in Malaysia; on the mainland and over in Borneo. Then in August 2011 I flew off to South Africa for a couple of weeks – six days at a special reserve for rescued cats followed by eight days in Kruger National Park – then, before returning home to Thailand, detoured to Madagascar and spent several days photographing lovely Lemurs. --------- Nearing the end of 2011 we were looking to open a small gallery making the best of my work available for sale as prints. Only question was, where? On one of my by then regular visits to KKOZ the idea suddenly struck: what better place than right here!?!? We opened Nature Impressions at KKOZ in the latter part of February 2012, and while my wife manages our gallery I get to spend time with many of the animals I love the most. --------- As I made it clear from the beginning to the directors, one of my goals being at KKOZ is to contribute in any way I can to further promote the excellent work that goes on there in support of conservation and animal welfare, and while we donate a portion of all our sales, I also make my pictures available for their educational department as well as the zoo's publicity campaigns. This desire to help has become a reward in itself, as in this capacity I'm given special access to newborn animals, enabling me to photograph their growth and development, as well as their Clouded Leopard population – the Clouded Leopard being my absolute favourite animal of all! - that are not seen by the general public, as they are part of KKOZ's highly successful breeding programme and need to be cared for in completely stress-free environments. --------- Hopefully my passion for animals in general can be seen in and felt by my work, and while that passion encompasses all of Mother Nature's wonderful gifts, it's clear my greatest love is for felines in particular, though primates are not far behind. Occasionally I will transform an image into black and white, but most of my work I keep in colour, as I love the beauty of both vidid and rich as well as the more subtle of tones and hues. But most of all what I am endeavouring to capture is at least something of my subject's personality and character, enough to stir emotions and bring about empathy for them in those that see the subjects I portray. --------- Naturally I'd love to live in a Utopian world in which there were an abundance of all animals species that only live in the wild, the reality of course is far different. However, just because an animal is captive doesn't make it any less amazing to behold, which is why I'm just as happy to capture images of subjects in captivity as I am of them in their natural habitat, and I fail to understand why anyone would discount an otherwise captivating picture simply on the grounds that the subject was photographed in captivity. Having some experience with both situations, aside from the difficulty of finding animals in the wild at times and getting close enough to them - in contrast to knowing exactly where they are to be found in places like zoos - I find that capturing compelling images of captive animals far more challenging, but it's a challenge I really enjoy. --------- By way of the images I capture and create, my deepest desire is to rekindle and stimulate the delight, excitement, fascination and curiosity that most people surely experienced in childhood upon discovering that we share this planet with such a vast array of wonderfully unique living forms. --------- Thank you for taking an interest and a special thanks to all of you who have been kind enough to leave appreciative comments on the pictures you like most.