In this interview, Wil talks about how he got started in photography and how his approach has changed over the last four years. He also shares some of his incredible wildlife images, including a selection of shots taken on a recent trip to Botswana—all of which were retouched in Affinity Photo.
How did you get started in wildlife photography, and how do you feel your approach has changed over time?
I purchased my first Camera in 2020, and I had no idea how to use one. It was a Nikon, and I became very busy on YouTube and other platforms just to learn the basics. I started taking photos of anything: landscapes, buildings, just anything. It was more to try and get to grips with the Nikon. Slowly I started to improve but you only do this by putting in the time and effort. I can remember I set fruit up on my kitchen table to try to understand f-stops and focusing. I also used model motor bikes set at different angles to the light. It was a slow process, but I kept at it, and even today I don’t get it right all the time, but when I do, I think, YES!
I believe skills develop over time. I have had a lifelong interest in wildlife, birds and nature, and I love the outdoors. So, after the first year, I very quickly started moving towards that field of photography. I don’t class myself as a ‘photographer’, I just love wildlife and nature and take photographs that I enjoy sharing with other people.
“I have had a lifelong interest in wildlife, birds and nature, and I love the outdoors. So, after the first year, I very quickly started moving towards that field of photography.”
Over the past couple of years, I have learned a lot, and still keep learning. At first, I said I would never process a photo, but I could see that if I didn’t go down this route, my photography would never improve to the standard I wanted it to. But one thing I still do if I get an animal or bird behind a twig or some other object like tall grass, I never remove that object, because I like to keep the image as natural as when I took the photo.
I have learned that unless you get out with your camera and practice you will never progress. I even go out in different weather conditions with different light etc. As I mainly do wildlife and I have knowledge of animal behaviour, my approach has to not only take into account weather, light, wind direction etc, but also how to minimise the impact my presence has on the animals—sometimes I don’t shower for 24 hours if I am going to photograph an animal that can be sensitive.
I think your technique improves with time and depending on which camera and lens you use, you will find your own way of taking photos, like how you like to hold your camera, because you need to be comfortable before you take the shot. As I said before, you also need to experiment—take just a few shots with different settings and compare them. This greatly gives you an idea of what suits your technique.
“Over the past couple of years, I have learned a lot, and I still keep learning. At first, I said I would never process a photo, but I could see that if I didn’t go down this route, my photography would never improve to the standard I wanted it to.”
Do you spend much time planning before you visit a location?
When I’m shooting locally, I only plan with regards to my subject and then I just go on the day, and the surroundings and weather make me decide how and where I want to be. But if I want to visit another country, I will plan maybe a year in advance, doing research on the internet, watching videos on YouTube, reading and listening to people who have years of knowledge.
This year, I went to The Kgalagadi in July—it boarders South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Online, I started talking to a guy by the name of Will Goodlet—this man’s knowledge and experience is fantastic! If you are into photography, please check his YouTube channel out. We became friends and met up in South Africa. I learnt so much from him and it’s finding people like him that give you their time to explain things and understand in a language you can understand, that makes all the difference.
Do you have any favourite locations to photograph where you live in Scotland?
I am originally from Derbyshire with a Scottish Mother. I took the decision to move to Scotland 11 years ago, and it was a good move in regard to taking up photography and looking to the future, and I have a few places I really enjoy going to. Unfortunately, a few years ago, Storm Arwen totally destroyed some of the forests I walked in locally and now there isn’t a tree standing in them. Other places I enjoy are the beautiful Cairngorms and the North East coast north of Aberdeen—it can be rugged and wild but beautiful at the same time. Many places in Scotland are so beautiful but be prepared for cold, wet, damp days and also sunny but chilly or warm days—all weathers, basically!
Tell us more about your recent photography trip to Botswana.
This question, I could write a book about, and I may at a later date do a small magazine—‘Out of Africa Trip Adventure’. Anyway, I will quickly try and give you an insight into my trip.
As a boy, I used to watch wildlife programmes. I used to love them—especially ones with some adventure in them. I suppose we all have dreams to do something like this, but I’m a normal working guy who just lives a loner’s life, and I live for my travels and photography, so I really wanted to make the trip happen. I did price a couple of trips up through some companies, but it was a no go because it was too expensive. Then, I got in contact with Will Goodlet, who I previously mentioned, and he told me to go down the route of self-drive and try The Kgalagadi, which I did.
I booked my accommodation a year in advance, and later I booked my flights and was all set, and I can say it was an excellent price to what I had been quoted—as long as you don’t want 5 star hotels. I stayed in comfortable, clean lodges. I cannot possibly write all the details here, but it was truly a wonderful ‘Out of Africa’ experience meeting wonderful people and seeing wildlife and birds in their natural habitat—nature at its very best, and I’ve already booked for next year!
I arrived at a domestic South African airport, like a building in the middle of nowhere, with a runway on the edge of a small town. I met Will and we had a three-hour drive to our first camp, just driving through the wilderness that seemed to go on forever. Please, if you get chance, read a book called “Jock of the Bushveld”. Our drive took three hours, but back in the day, as this book will tell you, the same journey with oxen and cart would take just over two weeks, covering around 10 miles a day.
The adventure had truly started, and we arrived at the first camp on the second day. I saw cheetahs and over the coming weeks we encountered leopards, lions and numerous bird species, including hunting birds of prey, some fantastic wilderness country and amazing sunsets and sunrises that take your breath away. All what I witnessed as a child on television was true!
I got back and I wanted more, and when I saw some of my images, I decided to book again. Next time I will go to a different area for one month, but you can easily go for two weeks and have an amazing life experience. These sorts of places do something to the mind and soul and just make you feel good. Try it and tell me! One thing I must say, though, it’s wildlife, so nothing is guaranteed. I was lucky but you won’t know if you don’t do it—and don’t forget your camera!
We were delighted to learn that you use Affinity Photo to retouch your images. Could you tell us why you chose it and your experience of the app so far?
I will answer this question honestly and openly. When I first started photography, I was very naive with regards to cameras and software, and after a while a few people kept saying, you need to get a software program, which I was totally against at first. In my mind, there was no way I was going to change the image—what I took a photo of, was how it was, and I still don’t believe one should remove grass or branches from a tree if that’s how you captured the image.
For me, it must be as original as when you took the photo, but I started to see the advantages of just using a program to bring it out more, remove noise, add a little contrast when the weather conditions have more power over what the camera can do. Another factor was cost. I heard everyone seemed to favour a certain software and I searched the internet for other options and saw that Affinity offered a decent program, with good reviews and feedback—also it was affordable. First, I took a trial, and what a difference it made to my photos! Also, the customer care is second to none and this is a big plus for me. Today I still use the program, but I only use the basics and on average spend a couple of minutes on each photo. If I have to spend much more, I delete it. You can’t turn a bad photo into a good one using a program, you have to get the majority right out in the field.
“Cost is a big factor for me. I heard everyone seemed to favour a certain software, so I searched the internet for other options and saw that Affinity offered a decent program, with good reviews and feedback—also it was affordable. First, I took a trial, and what a difference it made to my photos! Also, the customer care is second to none and this is a big plus for me.”
What tools in Affinity do you find most useful for retouching your photos?
As I mentioned, I’m not into spending hours changing images. I mostly use adjustments for changing brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. I have no idea how to use layers and much of the other stuff that is on there, but again, I feel the type of photography you do determines which features you want to use to get the best from your photographs. We all see things differently, so the changes you make to a photo will reflect that, and what you want from a program.
I also find the Dehaze Tool in filters quite beneficial for my wildlife photography. I still wish to learn more and think it’s a good, easy program and affordable, and at the moment I understand Affinity are offering a longer trial period, so it’s a no brainer. You have nothing to lose!
Do you have a favourite photo you have taken, and if so, can you share the story behind it?
This is a difficult one! I have many favourite photos, all for different reasons—there’s a story behind them all, so I picked a couple out. Firstly, I won an achievement for my photo of a golden eagle. The backlit sunlight made the bird more golden, and I waited in temperatures of -15 Celsius in a sleeping bag in a hide in the wilderness of Norway to capture the shot. I had no electricity, only candles and a camping stove, and I stayed for four days. It was truly magical and in some places the snow was as high as a house!
Another favourite photo is one I call “The Stare”, of a female goshawk “Phantom of the Forest”. This was some moment—it made the hairs stand up at the back of my neck, and if you’ve ever seen a goshawk hunt, you will know exactly what I mean.
What does photography mean to you?
I was at a crossroads in my life a few years ago, hence my move to Scotland. I needed time to reflect. I tried to look for answers that were not there and I started to focus on bad things about myself and my life, but one day I sat by a flowing river near were I live watching salmon jumping and thought what an incredible journey they take. Then I started to realise how lucky I was to be living in such a wonderful place, surrounded by nature. You can spend so much time thinking about the bad things in life and the good things go past unnoticed. It was at this point I looked into buying a camera and my life changed. I had a goal, a purpose. I don’t call myself a photographer, I’m just someone who enjoys wildlife and nature and enjoys taking photos, and I really like to share them with others via my Facebook page. I live alone, I like to travel to places within my budget, and I enjoy the outdoors. So, photography means so much to me, because it has helped me deal with life.
“You can spend so much time thinking about the bad things in life and the good things go past unnoticed. It was at this point I looked into buying a camera and my life changed.”
What are your plans for the future, and are there any animals, birds or places you are particularly keen to photograph if you have the opportunity?
Yes, I have plans in my head, but I am just an ordinary working man, so am limited to what I can do. I would love to photograph bears and wolves in Canada or America, but it is not within my budget. But I will be happy going to other places and having more life experiences doing what I love, and that’s photographing wildlife! Thank you to Affinity for giving me this opportunity to give you a little insight to my photography journey.
To see more of Wil’s stunning wildlife photography, follow him on Facebook.