‘Naturally Simple’ is an ongoing project which I hope to expand on over the coming months. The images are free from manipulation and are photographed in naturally simple situations, whilst utilising strong backlighting to create abstract designs.
Its amazing how much wildlife you can encourage into your garden just by letting it grow naturally. Up until a few years ago we used to mow this paddock several times a year. Today many would see it as field of weeds but to me its a wildlife haven. I included the barn in the image below, as it is also an important part of the habitat. Lots of insects and spiders benefit from the red brick walls that warm up in the sun throughout the day. Some of my best findings have been discovered around the edge of the building making it an important area of my study.
The area of study: Paddock
Various species of arachnids living in the paddock
In order to encourage particular wildlife, I laid down six chip board panels amongst the grass. The panels provide a whole host of wildlife with shelter and in some cases a home. The boards warm up nicely in the sun which the snakes particularly benefit from.
A litter of bank voles in a nest under one of the panels
Within a week of putting down the panels, I had mice, voles, shrews and grass snakes living underneath them. Over the course of the summer I have lost count of the number of nesting voles that I have encountered under the boards.
The population of bank voles in the paddock is booming. Everywhere I look I find new nests. If you just sit and listen your can hear squeaking and rustling coming from within the long grass.
Amazingly, bank voles become sexually mature at just five weeks old. Female bank voles can produce up to four or five litters a year which explains the numbers found within my paddock.
I have been documenting the bank voles with the aid of my field studio to create ‘Meet Your Neighbours’ style images.
The setup
The results
To be continued…
I have finally managed to complete the life cycle of a frog. Over the last couple of years I have missed certain parts of the cycle, but this year, after watching the tadpole stages closely, it has allowed me to document them as they turn into frogs. They whole process is truly remarkable and it is still as interesting now as it was when I was a child.
I have been trying to photography the tadpoles in different ways to make the most of them before they complete their cycle. The photographic process has been very time consuming but very rewarding.
High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-
Most wildlife will disappear or distance themselves from a potential threat, such as people getting too close for comfort. Depending on the situation, fear is surpassed by some animals and they become oblivious to what is going on around them. I have seen two robins having a scrap outside a cafe in the street - they just seem to be lost in their own little world and unaware that they risk getting trodden on by morning commuters. A sparrowhawk can be so engrossed with its prey that it doesn’t notice approaching people as a threat. This type of behaviour is mostly likely to arise as a result of food, rival males or defending territories.
These two willets were fighting in the surf on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Despite people playing in the water and others walking by along the beach, they continued to fight. After several minutes, the fight was over and the birds went their separate ways.
Nothing like a bit of free entertainment whilst on the beach.
What seems to be a never-ending barrage of bad weather, has driven me go in search of some inspiration to keep the photographic passion alive. So taking advantage of the January flight sales I travelled to Florida.
A day into my trip I soon realised that the bad weather back home had come back to haunt me. Pouring rain and skies so grey the sun never made an appearance. So much for being the ‘sunshine state’. Some parts of florida had nearly 2 feet of rainfall in 24hrs. A knock on effect from all the rain meant that the swamps and pools that were usually teaming with wildlife, were now too deep for all the wading birds. Even the Everglades National Park seemed awkwardly quiet. I had hoped to spend four days there but Instead only spent an evening and a morning, before deciding to head back west.
Many other photographers that I met were also feeling the shortage of wildlife and bad weather this year, so I was not alone. It is a constant reminder of the challenges that come with this type of photography. You just have to adapt and move on.
To sum it up, I didn’t get as many images I was hoping for. Despite the bad weather I did manage to have a few productive days and I met some great people along the way, which made the trip a lot better, so thank you, I hope to stay In touch.
Here are a few favorites from my trip
For a better viewing experience please follow the the link;
http://www.timhuntphotography.co.uk/untitled/recent-images
Osprey with fish
Armadillo foraging
Osprey
Alligator
White Ibis
Tricolored heron using its wings to create shade in order to reduce reflections
White ibis with crab
Fort Myers beach after all the rain
Brown Pellican
Great blue heron with nesting material
An alligator basks on a dirt road in front of my hire car
Tricolored Heron
Playful willets
Snowy egret chasing off a tricolored heron
The excitement of another year in photography brings deep thoughts of whats to come in terms of image making. I look back at 2013 with some memorable moments from photography. The best thing about it all is that it is never-ending. Who knows what 2014 will hold, but one thing is for sure and that is I can’t wait to find out.
The start of the year provided me with some cold weather. This tall frosty pine never looked the same again . It was one of those right place right time moments.
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After driving past this gathering of sheep. I stopped to photograph their behaviour. The one sheep was head butting the others - behaviour I have never seen before.
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South Florida provided me with a whole host of wildlife encounters that I was able to photograph to my hearts content. I plan to return soon.
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In May I was commission by Land’s End Landmark to document the natural history of the location. Staying out from dawn till dusk every day revealed dramatic landscapes brought to life by the rising and setting sun.
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This fulmar always remains in my mind as it watched me whilst it played in the high winds on the north coast of Cornwall. It was so windy I could barely stand up, yet this amazing bird just seem to perform like an acrobat just feet from the cliff side. It was certainly in its element.
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With 2013 being my first summer back home in Worcestershire since finishing University, I could really concentrate on documenting the wildlife in my local area. This collection of creatures was all found in my garden over several weeks. They were all collected, recorded and released. It truly is amazing what you can find if you let your garden grow. Since starting this project I have become an official contributor for Meet Your Neighbours (http://meetyourneighbours.net). I intend to continue this project later this year.
I had a close encounter with some curious fox cubs - a memory I will never forget.
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It was the first time ever that I had come across toad spawn. An artistic subject matter in itself.
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Spiders became the most fasinating subject of the year. They are a real under appreciated subject.
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Whilst waiting for a little owl to emerge from its hiding place. I photographed this family of magpies on a telegraph cable, which created a pleasing image. You can tell which one is the leader.
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Saved moments from being deleted for good, during a clear out on my computer. This ant on a passion flower tendril has become one of personal favourites from 2013
I came across a bank vole not long ago that had fallen into an old victorian well thats in my garden. The well has claimed the lives of many small creatures including frogs and small mammals over the years. I try to check it as much as I can to make sure there is nothing that has fallen in and cant get out.
This was the first mammal that I had found that had survived the fall or at least starvation. As soon as catching the vole with a small net, I placed it in a tank with some fresh and dried grass. It instantly started eating the fresh grass. It must have been starving and also dehydrated. Even though it was eating you could tell it didn’t look well. I was convinced it was going to die.
I collected a few blackberries which I thought would help as they contained plenty of moisture. They seemed to work a treat as it ate them all. It was definitely perking up.
As it made a clear recovery I set up my field studio and hung a bunch of blackberries over the surface where I placed the vole. It went strait to them and reared up and even climbed up into the bunch an started nibbling the fruit. It was a real joy to see this behaviour and even made some great images. I later released the vole back into the garden.
High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-
Some of the findings from the last couple of days.
Muntjac fawn from Tim Hunt on Vimeo.
(Apologies if the video above does not appear. It can still be viewed by clicking the the title ‘Muntjac fawn’)
Roe deer in a field of wheat
Red fox
It has been an absolute pleasure to have my work published in NaturFoto (German photography magazine) this month.
I just wish that I could speak German so I could read the wide variety of articles in the magazine, as the images from all the other photographers are just stunning.
Alligators basking
Alligator lying in wait
A great egret stalks its prey through the swamp
The old seven mile bridge on the Florida Keys is a real spectacle. As we drove out of the Keys we were faced with dark skies and dramatic light from the setting sun. The old bridge really came to life, but it was a race against the setting sun to find a shot before we lost the light.
High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-
http://www.timhuntphotography.co.uk/untitled/recent-images/album/southfloridaandtheeverglades?p=1
