Hello Rachel ! I´m Niko Reich from Germany , congratulation for the best of Wildlife Photographers ! I´m self in Germany in the wild Nature for Photografic and Film ! Regards from Germany Niko
Hi Rachel! Your work is so beautiful. I teared up at your speech. I am also a self taught photographer interested in wildlife. Your story inspires me ❤
Thoroughly well deserved Rachel, such an impressive ambassador for our profession - outstanding photography, I look forward to a lot more of your images in future
That was such an interesting insight in to what happens at the award ceremony and the days after. As somebody who first heard of you because of watching a Nigel Danson you tube video it’s been great to catch up on your previous work. You very much deserved your award, it is a fantastic photo and fits the brief perfectly, though I am in agreement with Chris and I also believe you’ve taken better photos, but because your standard is so high even a photo that may not be my particular favourite is still easily fantastic enough to win a prestigious competition. Hopefully more young women will be inspired by you and take up wildlife photography, I have to say though on my trips to Bempton cliffs recently I’ve seen a lot more women there photographing the birds, so that’s encouraging. I hope 2024 is another successful year for you.
Thank you so much 😀 It's really great to hear that you've followed me from Nigel's video. I'm excited to work with him again soon in just a few weeks time. Wildlife Photography is so subjective. My photograph is beautiful, but, what made it a winner was largely because the judges liked it. I also submitted images that had been awarded gold in other competitions, however, they didn't place in WPY because this particular panel of judges didn't like them as much as a different panel of judges did. I think it's important that people understand that, about competition results. Of course there are very important photographic factors that have to be taken into consideration but, ultimately, the final decision comes down to the personal opinion and preference of the judges. No one should feel that their image doesn't have winning potential as a result of that decision. Try next year when the judges are different, try another competition with the same image!
Congratulations Rachel. Well deserved - a fabulous image and your story around it is well told in this video. I had the pleasure of seeing your image, and the other winners, on display at the Auckland Museum here in New Zealand.
hi Rachel Congratulations on winning this prestigious award. wishing you lots of photo success in the new year 2024. warm greetings from the Netherlands
Superb image Rachel and thoroughly deserved recognition. I've been following your IG gallery for a while and your images are amazing and inspiring. Congratulations.
Love Your LUT and Congratulations! I watched the Grays of Westminster where they introduced You. So I watched the first video and immediately subscribed. I love Your Enthusiasm and Positivity. Well Done and I Wish You and Your Family many Blessings for the New Year. Take Care, Stay Safe and Keep Smiling! Cheers!
Congratulations Rachel on your amazing achievement and stunning image! Thanks for sharing your experiences and journey with us. I especially enjoyed your speech - so humble, inspiring and passionate about wildlife and the stars of your photo, the gannets themselves. Your efforts, photos and win are a great inspiration, particularly for self-taught, young female photographers out there. Keep up the excellent work! 🙏
Congratulations Rachel, you are a massive inspiration to everyone. I really love your style of images, both colour and black and white. Well done and well deserved.
Congratulations, Rachael. A well-deserved recognition for an absolutely beautiful image. Gannets are my favorite sea bird. After a career, recently retired, in protected areas management, I never missed the chance to see them when an opportunity arose. You captured them perfectly.
Congratulations! Such a priviledge. I've seen many of your images in the Bird Photographer Of The Year book and I love the stunning images you create. As I live in Sussex as well, I'm interested to know if you have any tips on where to go in Sussex for wildlife photography?
Thank you so much! That's really kind of you. Hmm, I sadly don't spend a lot of time in Sussex anymore, but I certainly used to visit Tide Mills (Seaford) and Cuckmere River a lot. I also loved Pevensey Levels as great for birds of prey. I do like the little reserve, Warnham in West Sussex - it's got a reliable Kingfisher! I think it depends on what wildlife you're after. If you have something specifically in mind, send me a message via my website and I can try to help! www.rachelbigsby.com/contact
Congratulations for the awards and must say the 'edit part' was extremely helpful as I always wondered how much edit is actually allowed in such major competitions, nice insight👍🏼
Congratulations! Beautiful composition and thank you for sharing your LR process. I also enjoyed a prior YT video when you took Nigel Danson into wildlife photography... Best of luck
Congratulations. Your portfolio of gannet images is fantastic. Looking at colonies in Shetland devastated by avian flu (in 2022) was so upsetting and I struggled to photograph of them but your images that carried the message and were still beautiful were inspirational. Linda Di Maio
Thank you @rahulv.r.7695 - I was shooting on the Nikon D850 when capturing this image with the Sigma 60-600mm sport lens. I no longer use that since becoming a Nikon creator, but it was sharp and versatile!
Thank you so much @MrWDCash - absolutely! If you copy and paste this link into your browser, it will take you to the image on my website: www.rachelbigsby.com/spirit-of-the-sea
Thank you so much! Great question. Next month I'm heading to Antarctica, then I'll be working at my usual Badger sett for the bluebell season in Spring. I'll certainly be keeping my feet firmly on UK soil for the majority of the summer as I work with our wonderful seabirds in Shetland, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Yorkshire and Northumberland. After the summer, I'll be heading to the Arctic and finishing up the year in the Falklands! Though, I have some other ideas in mind to squeeze in!...
Having seen your IG, I have to agree that you have got far better images on your account than this one. Either way it is great to see a young woman win such a prestigious award. Moreover, I hope you're right that it encourages far more, not just women, but younger people in general to not only enter competitions, but to start photography as a perfect way to connect with nature. Regardless of the image, you are an inspiration and that is the most important thing as without that, there is nothing. Well done on your achievement, and I hope next year there will be many more women (young or old) who are in the running for winning a category.
@@RachelBigsby You're very welcome. I love your style of photography. They way you blend the subject into the background is absolutely beautiful. I had to then watch your YT videos. What an experience you had in the Artic Circle!! Again, the images were so striking. You are so fortunate to have thad that opportunity to see things others simply cannot and thank you for spreading the message about protecting these wonders of nature. Personally I focus more on landscape photography, however, your images have made me start to look at wildlife photography as well. 2 questions: 1). Out of pure morbid interest, how did you become a Nikon ambassador? 2). How did you develop your style of photography?
Thank you so much. That's tremendously kind. I reached out to Nikon to see what opportunities were available for wildlife photographers. Of course, there is a much bigger process to it than that, but essentially, I just asked. You then have a very casual interview to exchange information and present what you can offer and then, cross your fingers! There isn't an application scheme etc. The development of my style simply came out of experimentation. I had a particularly bad summer for weather and luck several years ago and I wasn't feeling satisfied with my shots. I'd play around with my camera settings whilst out in the field to see if I could achieve anything new, most often, with the exposure compensation. I do think that my self-taught nature strongly inspired my style. I've never been aware of the rule of thirds, histograms and other "rules" like not shooting into the sun or shadows etc. I've just followed my eye. I appreciate that it's quite a vague response. I suppose, my style just developed organically. There wasn't a certain turning point or reason!
There's an incredibly strict vetting process which involves submitting the RAW file, as well as the edited version. RAW files are quite flat by their very nature and do require some light enhancing in a post-processing software. As you can see, I didn't use any filters, gradients or photoshop or manipulate the photograph in any way which would make this image ineligible, I just used the tools at my disposal to enhance the data that was already in the image I captured. As Chris Packham mentioned, ideally, I would've removed the blades of grass from the nest but then, the image would be disqualified. Personally, I believe that the post-processing of an image should be explored in greater detail by photographers. For, the photographer is still seeing potential and creative opportunities in a photograph. I hope this clears things up, but appreciate that it's a matter of personal preference! :-)
@@RachelBigsby thank you for your reasoned response and again congratulations,those are beautiful birds and you captured the moment.In Florida we rarely see gannets and when they grace our shores we all scramble for the shot. Well done.
Hi @vandrefalkTV - I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to watch my film and leave a comment. RUclips is a new venture for me, and I am already overwhelmed by the volume of viewers! Thank you for being one of them. Toward the end of my talk at the natural history museum, I suggested that a mobile phone photography category should be introduced into the competition to develop greater equality and to encourage more people to explore the creative outlet that lives in their back pocket. I wasn’t given a response, but, as a judge of the RSPCA’s young photographer of the year, we have 3+ mobile phone categories and the results each year are staggeringly beautiful! When I began my journey into wildlife photography, I also started with a basic phone camera for several years. At 16, I took a job in retail and with my first wage packet on Christmas Eve, I purchased my DSLR after persuading my employer to let me finish a little early and run through the shopping centre to the camera store before it closed at 4pm. I’m now in no better position to buy the photographic equipment that I would like, but, I do have the immense fortune of working with Nikon Europe which grants me access to loan equipment from them. Without their support and kindness, I would be using my DSLR as, like for so all young people, wildlife photography is generally an unaffordable art. I have always been transparent about my path into wildlife photography, for two reasons. Firstly, I am from a very ordinary background and, I worked incredibly hard whilst juggling my school exams to purchase my camera. Secondly, because I will not allow any young person to have their dreams crushed due to a belief that unless they are from a wealthy background, wildlife photography is unachievable. This is sadly a major contributing factor behind the lack of young people taking part in the art form, and an issue that I feel very strongly about. I look forward to being able to share with you the actions I have taken to make wildlife photography accessible to young people, when I am able to speak about the project. I wish you a very happy and healthy new year, and thank you once again for interacting with my new channel and venture.
Congratulations, Rachel on this huge achievement! You are indeed an inspiration for young and older wildlife enthusiasts like me :). If it's ok, I might reach over with a PM on Instagram for any specific questions. Love your work overall! :)
Congratulations Rachael thoroughly deserved 🎉
Thank you so much Andy 😀
Nice to see you on here! Keep it up!
Hello Rachel ! I´m Niko Reich from Germany , congratulation for the best of Wildlife Photographers ! I´m self in Germany in the wild Nature for Photografic and Film ! Regards from Germany Niko
Thank you @nikoreich1577 ! 😃
Dream of every wildlife photographer 🙏🏽
Thank you so much 😀
Congrats
Hi Rachel! Your work is so beautiful. I teared up at your speech. I am also a self taught photographer interested in wildlife. Your story inspires me ❤
Wow, thank you! This makes me truly happy. I’m so grateful that you’ve taken the time to tell me this! ❤️🥺
What a stunning image - totally deserved success 14:38
Thank you so much @howardrankin7119 - that is very kind of you to say!
Congratulations and we'll done Rachel. I love the simplicity of your editing, proving less is more
Something I do in my own general photography 📷👍
Thanks so much! 😊
Great work! Congratulations to this amazing photo!
Thank you so much!
Thoroughly well deserved Rachel, such an impressive ambassador for our profession - outstanding photography, I look forward to a lot more of your images in future
That’s so kind of you. Thank you!
Congratulations Rachel well done great imagine.
congratulations
Congratulations. Bravo Phil AKA keepclickingphotography
Thank you so much, keepclickingphotography!
Congrats!!!
Congratulations Rachel on winning Wildlife Photographer of the Year 🤝excellent photo👏well deserved 👍
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachel with your Award winning photograph!
Thank you so much 😀
Wow..superb image..heartiest congratulations 😊🎉
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachel, a superb image, from a talented photographer with a real insightful eye. 🎉
Thank you so much 😀
Absolutely superb. A very well deserved win. I've always loved your work, since I was lucky enough to discover your channels.
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachell🎉
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachel!
Thank you so much 😀
That was such an interesting insight in to what happens at the award ceremony and the days after.
As somebody who first heard of you because of watching a Nigel Danson you tube video it’s been great to catch up on your previous work.
You very much deserved your award, it is a fantastic photo and fits the brief perfectly, though I am in agreement with Chris and I also believe you’ve taken better photos, but because your standard is so high even a photo that may not be my particular favourite is still easily fantastic enough to win a prestigious competition.
Hopefully more young women will be inspired by you and take up wildlife photography, I have to say though on my trips to Bempton cliffs recently I’ve seen a lot more women there photographing the birds, so that’s encouraging.
I hope 2024 is another successful year for you.
Thank you so much 😀 It's really great to hear that you've followed me from Nigel's video. I'm excited to work with him again soon in just a few weeks time.
Wildlife Photography is so subjective. My photograph is beautiful, but, what made it a winner was largely because the judges liked it. I also submitted images that had been awarded gold in other competitions, however, they didn't place in WPY because this particular panel of judges didn't like them as much as a different panel of judges did. I think it's important that people understand that, about competition results. Of course there are very important photographic factors that have to be taken into consideration but, ultimately, the final decision comes down to the personal opinion and preference of the judges. No one should feel that their image doesn't have winning potential as a result of that decision. Try next year when the judges are different, try another competition with the same image!
Congratulations 👏♥️♥️ dear love from Bangladesh 🇧🇩🇧🇩
Thank you!
Wow... amazing ... Congratulations ... 📸🤩
Thank you so much 😁
@@RachelBigsby welcome 🤗
Congratulations 🥂 truly an incredible piece of art.
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachel. Well deserved - a fabulous image and your story around it is well told in this video. I had the pleasure of seeing your image, and the other winners, on display at the Auckland Museum here in New Zealand.
Thank you so much! I'm really pleased you enjoyed the exhibition!
Such a worthy winner! Love your images and great to sense your joy and hear the background story of the award. 👏👏👏😍
Thank you so much! 😊
Well done Rachel, that was a stunning image. Keep up the good work 📷👍🏼
Thanks so much! 😊
Congratulations Rachel 👏👏👏
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations 💐👍
congratulations
Thank you @ares9172 !
Congratulations, so inspiring!
Lovely video and stunning image Rachael. Massive congratulations
Thank you so much!
hi Rachel
Congratulations on winning this prestigious award. wishing you lots of photo success in the new year 2024.
warm greetings from the Netherlands
Thank you so much!
Congratulations Rachel! Noss is an amazing island.
I can't wait to go back!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Superb image Rachel and thoroughly deserved recognition. I've been following your IG gallery for a while and your images are amazing and inspiring. Congratulations.
Thank you so much 😀
Love Your LUT and Congratulations! I watched the Grays of Westminster where they introduced You. So I watched the first video and immediately subscribed. I love Your Enthusiasm and Positivity. Well Done and I Wish You and Your Family many Blessings for the New Year. Take Care, Stay Safe and Keep Smiling! Cheers!
Thank you so much! I'm really happy to hear that 😀
Very well deserved
Thank you so much.
Congratulations! You gotta get down to the Falkland Islands -- phenomenal.
I’ll be there in 23 days!
Stunning image Rachel, WTG girl 👌
thank you so much!
love good Job
Absolutely fantastic, and truly well deserved!
Thank you so much 😀
Congrats! Im a newbie photographer from the Philippines and you are an inspiration to me to be better at it.
You can do it!
Congratulations Rachel .. Wish you many more such awards and recognitions.
@SagarGosaviPhotography , that is such a kind thing to say. Thank you!
Amazing
Thank you!
Well done Fantastic image .
Thank you!
Subscribed what an amazing job 😊
Thanks so much! 😊
Beautiful photograph.
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations😍😍😍
Thank you!
Wow! That’s a brilliant image and a well deserved award!
Will we be seeing more of you on YT?
Absolutely!! Watch this space...
Congratulations! Your work is beautiful. It's a pleasure to watch woman receiving this great prize! All the best in 2024 💗
Thank you so much @klaras286 💗
It`s a thoroughly deserved award for your photography Rach...congratulations once again...
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachel on your amazing achievement and stunning image! Thanks for sharing your experiences and journey with us. I especially enjoyed your speech - so humble, inspiring and passionate about wildlife and the stars of your photo, the gannets themselves. Your efforts, photos and win are a great inspiration, particularly for self-taught, young female photographers out there. Keep up the excellent work! 🙏
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind and heart-warming comment. It has made me smile this morning!
Amazing ! Beautiful work , congratulations ! Thank you inspiring us and showing nature's beauty through your eye ❤
Thank you so much! This is so nice of you.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Congratulations
Thank you! 😃
Congratulations and greetings from Chile🤗
Thank you! 😃
Congratulations.
Thank you!
Stunning photograph. Well deserved.
Thank you so much!
Congratulations Rachael!!! Fascinating story about the species. Well done and well deserved!
Thank you ever so much!
Congratulations Rachel, you are a massive inspiration to everyone. I really love your style of images, both colour and black and white. Well done and well deserved.
Thank you so much, that truly is so kind 😀
Many Congratulations Rachael, I am inspired by your beautiful images, thank you.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for sharing your experience and a big congratulations! 😊
Thank you!! 😊
Congratulations! Such a beautiful shot. Well deserved. Looking forward to seeing more of you on You tube. 😃
thank you so much!
Congratulations Rachel. An image that says more than words 👍
wow, thank you so much!
Congratulations
Congratulations, Rachael. A well-deserved recognition for an absolutely beautiful image. Gannets are my favorite sea bird. After a career, recently retired, in protected areas management, I never missed the chance to see them when an opportunity arose. You captured them perfectly.
Thank you so much, and for the work you've done in protected areas management 😀
@@RachelBigsby it was definitely more a passion than a job. And it was fun!
Congratulations Rachael! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. 🏴🇸🇪🇹🇹
Thank you so much @EugeneMaynard !
Congrats on the award, stunning image.
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations Rachael! This is motivation for me thank you .
WOW - I'm so happy to hear that. Thank you and best of luck in all that you do!
@@RachelBigsby 💛🙌
Brilliant stuff Rachel.
Congratulations! Such a priviledge. I've seen many of your images in the Bird Photographer Of The Year book and I love the stunning images you create. As I live in Sussex as well, I'm interested to know if you have any tips on where to go in Sussex for wildlife photography?
Thank you so much! That's really kind of you. Hmm, I sadly don't spend a lot of time in Sussex anymore, but I certainly used to visit Tide Mills (Seaford) and Cuckmere River a lot. I also loved Pevensey Levels as great for birds of prey. I do like the little reserve, Warnham in West Sussex - it's got a reliable Kingfisher! I think it depends on what wildlife you're after. If you have something specifically in mind, send me a message via my website and I can try to help! www.rachelbigsby.com/contact
Congratulations for the awards and must say the 'edit part' was extremely helpful as I always wondered how much edit is actually allowed in such major competitions, nice insight👍🏼
Thank you so much 😀 that's useful to know!
Striking image and great editing. Congratulations.
Thank you!
Although I mostly take mono , the colour version of this looks great
That's interesting! The colour version is not for me. That's the wonderful thing about photography, it can just be beautifully subjective.
Congratulations! Beautiful composition and thank you for sharing your LR process. I also enjoyed a prior YT video when you took Nigel Danson into wildlife photography... Best of luck
Thank you so much! I'm pleased to hear that.
wonderful, well done!!!!
Thank you so much 😀
Congratulations. Your portfolio of gannet images is fantastic. Looking at colonies in Shetland devastated by avian flu (in 2022) was so upsetting and I struggled to photograph of them but your images that carried the message and were still beautiful were inspirational. Linda Di Maio
Thank you so much, Linda!
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Congratulations 👣
You are the best photographer ever
This is SO kind, Geoff. Thank you!
Congratulations🤩🥳 What was the gear you were using?
Thank you @rahulv.r.7695 - I was shooting on the Nikon D850 when capturing this image with the Sigma 60-600mm sport lens. I no longer use that since becoming a Nikon creator, but it was sharp and versatile!
Congratulations! Is there a place on line where I can get a better look at this photograph?
Thank you so much @MrWDCash - absolutely! If you copy and paste this link into your browser, it will take you to the image on my website: www.rachelbigsby.com/spirit-of-the-sea
Which wildlife of the year comp did you win there is quite a few?!
I won in Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
That is the competition 🙂
@@RachelBigsby was it the BBC Wildlife photographer of the year? Or the Sony Awards one.
Really fascinating look into the process, and massive congratulations! Curious to hear what animals / birds you’re hoping to snap this year?
Thank you so much! Great question.
Next month I'm heading to Antarctica, then I'll be working at my usual Badger sett for the bluebell season in Spring.
I'll certainly be keeping my feet firmly on UK soil for the majority of the summer as I work with our wonderful seabirds in Shetland, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Yorkshire and Northumberland. After the summer, I'll be heading to the Arctic and finishing up the year in the Falklands! Though, I have some other ideas in mind to squeeze in!...
@@RachelBigsby ah that sounds absolutely amazing, can’t wait to see more pics! I’m on the opposite side of the world for most of this year
You are a conservation photographer!
Thank you!
How to join Wildlife Photographer of the Year??
Hi @bunkkromo ! The competition is closed for entires now, but re-open in October! You'll need to look at www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy
Having seen your IG, I have to agree that you have got far better images on your account than this one. Either way it is great to see a young woman win such a prestigious award. Moreover, I hope you're right that it encourages far more, not just women, but younger people in general to not only enter competitions, but to start photography as a perfect way to connect with nature. Regardless of the image, you are an inspiration and that is the most important thing as without that, there is nothing. Well done on your achievement, and I hope next year there will be many more women (young or old) who are in the running for winning a category.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and to leave such a kind-hearted message!
@@RachelBigsby You're very welcome. I love your style of photography. They way you blend the subject into the background is absolutely beautiful. I had to then watch your YT videos. What an experience you had in the Artic Circle!! Again, the images were so striking. You are so fortunate to have thad that opportunity to see things others simply cannot and thank you for spreading the message about protecting these wonders of nature.
Personally I focus more on landscape photography, however, your images have made me start to look at wildlife photography as well. 2 questions:
1). Out of pure morbid interest, how did you become a Nikon ambassador?
2). How did you develop your style of photography?
Thank you so much. That's tremendously kind.
I reached out to Nikon to see what opportunities were available for wildlife photographers. Of course, there is a much bigger process to it than that, but essentially, I just asked. You then have a very casual interview to exchange information and present what you can offer and then, cross your fingers! There isn't an application scheme etc.
The development of my style simply came out of experimentation. I had a particularly bad summer for weather and luck several years ago and I wasn't feeling satisfied with my shots. I'd play around with my camera settings whilst out in the field to see if I could achieve anything new, most often, with the exposure compensation. I do think that my self-taught nature strongly inspired my style. I've never been aware of the rule of thirds, histograms and other "rules" like not shooting into the sun or shadows etc. I've just followed my eye. I appreciate that it's quite a vague response. I suppose, my style just developed organically. There wasn't a certain turning point or reason!
@@RachelBigsby Thanks for replying. And yes, I have subscribed to your channel and 'hit the bell' for updates.
Well done,however,I find it interesting that a post processed image is eligible for such a prestigious award.
There's an incredibly strict vetting process which involves submitting the RAW file, as well as the edited version. RAW files are quite flat by their very nature and do require some light enhancing in a post-processing software. As you can see, I didn't use any filters, gradients or photoshop or manipulate the photograph in any way which would make this image ineligible, I just used the tools at my disposal to enhance the data that was already in the image I captured. As Chris Packham mentioned, ideally, I would've removed the blades of grass from the nest but then, the image would be disqualified. Personally, I believe that the post-processing of an image should be explored in greater detail by photographers. For, the photographer is still seeing potential and creative opportunities in a photograph. I hope this clears things up, but appreciate that it's a matter of personal preference! :-)
@@RachelBigsby thank you for your reasoned response and again congratulations,those are beautiful birds and you captured the moment.In Florida we rarely see gannets and when they grace our shores we all scramble for the shot.
Well done.
So.. step 1 is: get thousands and thousands of money for gear, as per usual or? 😅
Hi @vandrefalkTV - I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to watch my film and leave a comment. RUclips is a new venture for me, and I am already overwhelmed by the volume of viewers! Thank you for being one of them.
Toward the end of my talk at the natural history museum, I suggested that a mobile phone photography category should be introduced into the competition to develop greater equality and to encourage more people to explore the creative outlet that lives in their back pocket. I wasn’t given a response, but, as a judge of the RSPCA’s young photographer of the year, we have 3+ mobile phone categories and the results each year are staggeringly beautiful!
When I began my journey into wildlife photography, I also started with a basic phone camera for several years. At 16, I took a job in retail and with my first wage packet on Christmas Eve, I purchased my DSLR after persuading my employer to let me finish a little early and run through the shopping centre to the camera store before it closed at 4pm.
I’m now in no better position to buy the photographic equipment that I would like, but, I do have the immense fortune of working with Nikon Europe which grants me access to loan equipment from them. Without their support and kindness, I would be using my DSLR as, like for so all young people, wildlife photography is generally an unaffordable art.
I have always been transparent about my path into wildlife photography, for two reasons. Firstly, I am from a very ordinary background and, I worked incredibly hard whilst juggling my school exams to purchase my camera. Secondly, because I will not allow any young person to have their dreams crushed due to a belief that unless they are from a wealthy background, wildlife photography is unachievable.
This is sadly a major contributing factor behind the lack of young people taking part in the art form, and an issue that I feel very strongly about.
I look forward to being able to share with you the actions I have taken to make wildlife photography accessible to young people, when I am able to speak about the project.
I wish you a very happy and healthy new year, and thank you once again for interacting with my new channel and venture.
Congratulations Rachel on a fantastic year for you and a thoroughly deserved wildlife photographer of the year love following your work on instagram 😊
Thank you so much John!
Congratulations, Rachel on this huge achievement! You are indeed an inspiration for young and older wildlife enthusiasts like me :). If it's ok, I might reach over with a PM on Instagram for any specific questions. Love your work overall! :)
Hi @mariyanatasheva6784 - please do! I'd love to hear from you.