Final major project -wildlife (habitat)

final Major project.

Statement of intent-

For this unit i plan to go on several shoots photographing wildlife and surrounding areas. I've decided to focus on animals individual habitat, so there trails, entrances within bushes, holes they live in ect..
i've always had a strong passion and interest for animals, which is why i decided to focus my final unit on there lifestyles. i hope to achieve a good set of final images that i will present and the end of year show. I am also hoping this unit will help me gain some new skills when photographing, as i haven't photographer much wildlife yet, only in my spare time. So i am really excited to get started on this unit.


Animal trails-

I did some reshearch into animals trails and footprints, so when i was walking around i had some idea on what i was looking for. I decided it would be a good place to start with looking up animals foot prints, which i actually found really interesting as i never knew how many different types of foot prints there were for each different animals. I also never knew why each animals have the foot prints they day, as rabbits have a longer back foot to there front, so they had more power in there hop. 

Habitats-

i didi some research into different types of habitats.

The country side-

Wildlife in the UK-

There are 47 mammals living in the UK, all of which are extremely different and live completely different lifestyles. When doing my shoots i focused on terrestrial as i did not have the equipment to explore the marine life. Even though the majority of mammals are territorial they are harder than i expected to come across while out and about, so i was glad i looked into the different ways to track.

Research/inspiration.

Ever since I became interested in photography Peter beards work has always stood out for me, I’m not sure if its his unique style or the fact he just captures some amazing images of wildlife in Africa. I find his work really interesting, and I love how he displays it along with pieces of his diary. I often use Beards work for inspiration for my own, as I love his presentation and how he add leaves, flowers, feathers and more to help bring his images more alive. 

I have a lot of strong emotions while looking at some of his work however, as some of his photographs are deceased animals, some of which are now endangered. The facts he’s just captured animals in the natural environment is what makes me appreciate his works so much more, as his captured rare moments of elephants playing, cheetahs relaxing, and animals bonding with one another. Peter beard is such an inspiration to me not only because of his work but also because of his dedication to wildlife photography, as he spent many years of his life working and living in remote parts of Africa.

Brian Skerry-

Another favorite photographers of mine will have to be Brian Skerrys, as I feel like he captures the most amazing photographs of marine life. I like the fact he also focuses on the environment that these creatures live in, one of my favourite photographs of Brian Skerrys work is the one of the coral reef, which is all so colourful and vibrant. It’s such a beautiful image that captures such a wonderful part of underwater life. However my ultimate favourite image of Skerrys has to be the harp seal pup, I love how the seal has direct eye contact with the camera lens.

 All my focus goes straight to the seals eyes and face, which is truly beautiful. I have read up on the image and it goes on to say that it was the seal’s first swim and was taken off the coast of Canada. I first came across brains Skerrys work in the national geographic magazine as he had an article on some beautiful reefs a couple thousand miles from Hawaii.

Ben hall-

I love this photograph of the field mouse as it has a small aperture so all my focus goes straight to the mouse. I also love how the mouse is position right at the end of the wheat, to shows just how tiny the mouse is not to weigh the wheatcompletely completely down.

The reaso this is one of my favourite images by ben hall is because of the vibrant colours. I also love how you can see the sunlight shimmering of the deers fur.

This is a brilliant photograph in my opinion, i love how you can see so much of the woodlands and only the head of the deer.

Fay Godwin-

I really love this image because of the reflection of the branches on the water.

I feel like black and white really works with this image, as i love how you can still see where the sun is shining down on the sand where the water has been drained back into the sea.

This is my favourite fay goodwins image. i like how the monitions shape the image and the river gives a nice contrast.

Forbidden land-

Plan of action-

As i live near the country side, i am at an advantage that there is a lot of good places near by i can go to hopefully photograph wildlife and habitat.



For my first shoot I'm planning to go up hesbury uptown, which is known for it wildlife, as pheasant's run free, and many rabbits/hares live in the fields.








For my second shoot i'm planning to go up chipping sodbury common, as again theres lots of evidence of animals, with cows, deers and rabbits all living within the fields.







For my third shoot i think i will head to a more wooden area, instead of staying around open ground like fields. So i am planning to go to vassals park.







North road-











Engine common-



Hesbury uptown (Shoot one) -

I decided to go up hesbury uptown village, as there is a lot of  forest area and fields so i knew i would be able to find some evidence of animals around there. I feel like the shoot went well, but it did get cut short as it started to rain heavily. So i'm hoping i'm going to get another opportunity to go back up there as i expect i get can a lot more good images. I am happy with the photographs i got though, and will considering you some as my final images.


Contact sheet-

Best images-

This shoot got cut short due to the rain, so disopoitnly i don't have as many images as i would of hoped. But i did get a few nice landscapes within the woods.

Chipping sodbury common (shoot two)-

contact sheet-


Best images-

This shoot i decided to go up chipping sod bury common, as many deer and cows are known to live here. Sadly i did not get to capture any of these animals but i do believe i got some nice landscape images of the fields and open land that they live within.

river shoot (shoot three)-

As all animals rely on water, i decided it would be a good idea to do a shoot based around a river. This has been my favoroute shoot so far as i got to see many baby lambs playing and drinking from the river. It was so lovely to see these animals just doing there day to day business. A problem i cam across while on this shoot was that the boat was not the smoothest, so it was harder to focus the camera.

contact sheet-

Best images-

North road woods (shoot four) -

contact sheet-

best images-

I was hoping if i waited long enough some rabbits might make an appearance but sadly they did not, so i did some more research to what time of day rabbits are more likely to be out and about depending to weather conditions so i will be coming back to this area in the early hours of the morning next week. I did however really enjoy looking into the bunnies burrows, discovering the most used a trances and exits. I also came across some bigger burrows, which must either home a fox or badger.

Engine common (shoot five)-

contact sheet-

best images-

I really enjoyed this shoot, it was only the second shoot that i managed to capture animals in there natural habitat. i was luckily enough to spot these rabbit's playing and sunbathing along side and within the hedges. i feel as though i got some great shoots, and i believe this shoot is similar to the styles of some of the photographers i researched for this unit.

 For the end of year show I'm planning to display my work with pegs. I'm also planning to make a paper mache tree for decorations i'm also going to bring in leaves, bark and mud that i have gathered from the woodlands.

evaluation-

Overall i really enjoyed this unit. I am pleased with the images i have produced and have learnt a lot about the wildlife in England. I never realised how much wildlife we had living within are everyday woods and countryside. I also had no idea on how to track or find traces of animals before starting this unit, i am must more aware now as if i see a foot print I'm more interested to know what animals it came from or recoginse the print.