About me
Hi there! I'm a 24 year old Zoologist from Lancashire, UK. I am a Zoologist and currently hold a Masters and I am currently undertaking a PhD in Evolutionary Ecology at the University of Sheffield, with a focus on bio-imaging. I'm also a keen amateur photographer. I mainly focus on the wildlife and landscapes on my doorstep, but I also enjoy traveling around the UK to capture that perfect image. I was lucky enough to travel to Malaysia during my Zoology degree which also provided me with a fantastic opportunity for more exotic encounters. If I had to give myself a label, I'd say that I am a nature photographer rather than a wildlife photographer because I also take pictures of captive animals. Some photographers have an issue with this, but if the animals are kept in good conditions and are not stressed out by the experience then I see nothing wrong with it, as long as you admit that the animal is in captivity. It's not wildlife photography, it's something different and thus why I would say that I am a nature photographer.
Anyway, enough about me, that's not why you are here (although you can read a bit more below about how I developed a passion for photography). I hope you enjoy looking around my website and viewing my images, and feel free to get in touch if you want to chat or have any questions. |
Biography
I've always been fascinated in wildlife and nature, particularly as a young child. I have vivid memories of observing and trying to photograph birds in my back garden with a small disposable camera - this images weren't up to scratch but something had awoken within me. Soon after I persuaded my parents to get me a small digital camera. It was only 3MP and had a pathetic zoom, but I loved running around taking photos, especially on trips to nature reserves and places the WWT centre at Martin Mere. One holiday in Scotland I spent ages stalking lizards trying to get the perfect shot. I realised I could do with an upgrade my camera to allow me more flexibility. I treated to my first dslr; an Olympus E510. I've stuck with Olympus ever since. It might not be everyone's first choice but I love the colours their cameras produce and the quality of their lenses is phenomenal, even the budget ones! And the added advantage of 4:3 sensors having a 2x crop factor makes it a very handy, compact system for photographing wildlife, especially using the OM-D E-M5. (To find out more about the gear I use click here or the equipment button). |
Since moving to Sheffield, I have taken a much more active approach to photography to try to improve my skills and do more than just record the wildlife I encounter. I'm rarely happy with an image I produce but I think that helps make me a better photographer. It helps me to strive to learn more techniques and skills to improve my photographic technique. I am a self-taught photographer, learning primarily through trial-and-error, but also through reading and studying. There are a plethora of books and online resources out there, but no matter how much you read you need to get out there and trial different techniques to see what works and what doesn't, and crucially, find your own unique style or niche that you can persevere with and still find enjoyable no matter what happens. Not all kinds of photography are plain sailing; a lot of patience and perseverance are crucial to obtain top notch images, particularly when photographing ephemeral events (like weather, landscapes, animals, plants, fungi... I'll stop, you should be getting the idea now). And don't be afraid to make mistakes, we all make them, and remember memory is cheap, so take plenty of photos and learn as much as you can from crappy photos! They are an integral part of the learning experience, so don't be ashamed of them or get down in the dumps when you review your photos and they don't turn out how you imagined they would, learn from them and better yourself.
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All photos and content © Duncan Jackson 2017, all rights reserved.
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This website is best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer. Although this website is mobile-responsive, for an optimal viewing experience please click "Request desktop site" in your mobile browser.