The images that I share on this website all fall within the category of natural history. As such, I always feel that these images should be natural representations of the subjects that I’m photographing, nothing added or taken away. I’m happy with the images I produce but it would be untrue to say that they are the only images I enjoy making. I have always had a fascination with editing and photo manipulation. Most recently I have been working on a project that is quite unlike anything else I have posted of this website but something I hugely enjoy working on.
A few of these images have been on my website for a little while but I added them with very little acknowledgement or fanfare. I was hesitant to include them, as they are so different from anything else that I've done. I finally decided that I should give at least a little back story to what these images are all about
Photographic Illustrations
I have always enjoyed illustration although never had much of a talent for it myself. In particular, I like old Victorian era illustrations of birds and other animals. A lot of these images follow a particular style, just think of John James Audubon. Beautiful paintings of birds set on white with perhaps a few key elements of a species habitat. It’s this concept that I thought would apply well to photography.
The result of that thinking are the images you see here. I refer to these as photo illustrations. I’ve tried to create images that have the same aesthetic, putting emphasis on the main subject and removing all other distractions. How well these images work I leave up to you.
A coal tit in flight, in the style of a charcoal drawing
I have tried to carry on this idea and expand upon it by looking at other popular art forms from yester year. Recently that has included taxidermy and stereo photography. I think these older pieces still have a charm that persists to this day and transfers well to photography.
A stereograph showing a great in flight.
