Wildlife photos just come naturally... - PICTURES
A KEEN eye and a lot of patience – the two most important things when taking the perfect nature snap, according to amateur photographer Glyn Hudson.
The JCB driver spends every spare moment in the great outdoors, armed with his camera and waiting to get the ultimate shot.
He loves all creatures great and small, a fascination which initially started as a bird-watching hobby.
Glyn, from Whiston, Rotherham, said: "I've been a keen bird-watcher for years.
"But when I started to get a bit bored with them I started spotting dragonflies.
"I found it very hard to identify all the different types there and then, so I started to take photographs which I could study better later.
"Then the pictures looked so beautiful that the photography took off from there – I suppose you could say I fell into it by accident."
Now, six years on, the 58-year-old has a vast collection of portfolios featuring photos of birds, bugs and beasts – or "anything to do with nature" as he puts it.
One of his favourite South Yorkshire beauty spots is Potteric Carr nature reserve near Doncaster, where he travels almost every weekend.
He's also a fan of Silverwood Pit Top between Thrybergh and Ravenfield, where he spotted and snapped his favourite shot of the moment – an image of a short-eared owl in the snow, its piercing eyes shining out from the whiteness.
East Coast resorts like Filey and Scarborough, as well as places further afield in Norfolk and Wales, are some of the other regular trips Glyn makes in his search of good photographs.
His hobby has even taken over his holidays, with trips abroad always centred around what he can expect to find there.
Glyn said: "I've been to Tanzania, Gambia, Cuba, India. All my holidays revolve around wildlife!
"Fortunately my wife Gillian enjoys it too. It's an interest we share – although I'm probably a bit more obsessed with it!"
He said patience was the key when working with nature, and added: "Sometimes it can be a lot of work just to get one shot.
"You need a lot of patience, but I've always liked being outside in the fresh air so that doesn't bother me too much.
"I like capturing different creatures in different seasons – the birds from Scandinavia in the winter, from Africa in the spring, the snakes, butterflies and the dragonflies.
"And then I like sharing the results among my friends – it's nice to get out a portfolio to show them when they come round."
But he added he's always pushing himself to get that little bit closer to perfection.
"I love it when I capture the creatures in their natural environment - but I'm never satisfied.
"I always want that little bit more."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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