From lug nuts to golden eagles

Rick Forster is TankSafe’s technical director and an accomplished wildlife photographer.
We asked him about life in the bushes…

What’s the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
How much it will take over your life. It’s an addiction in a way, nailing a shot
of something that is notoriously difficult can in some cases take a lifetime.
Nature and wildlife can be very unpredictable.

What equipment do you use?
I use Canon equipment EOS R5 and EOS R6 camera bodies and various RF lenses.
Gitzo tripod with Manfrotto video head. Prograde memory cards and Nescafe Barista coffee!

When you go out to shoot, what essential items do you take
other than your camera and lenses?
Suitable clothing for time of year, tripod, spare charged batteries, memory cards, flask of coffee is essential.

Have you ever been in a dangerous or risky situation
when out shooting? Once, up a mountain in Slovenia. Heading back down in total darkness with a very large, fast brown bear close by!

What inspires you?
Nature, how its creatures survive with so many human influences out there; there is a huge amount of ignorance and total lack of respect for the environment.

What’s the most difficult part of being a photographer for you?
Time, I devote virtually all my leave to photography. The plus side is I enjoy the peace and the escapism of being in some very remote locations sometimes. 

Among your works, which one is your favourite?
Tough one, I think one of my favourite images is a Brown bear cub in Slovenia - laying down in a small opening in a forest high up in the Slovenian mountains.

Whose work has influenced you the most?
Morten Hilmer, a Danish film maker and photographer. His work is stunning. I like his style of getting the surroundings into his images and showing the animal’s domain rather than concentrating on a close up.

What makes a good picture?
It’s hard to say, its down to the individual who is viewing the image. Personally I like to see a photo that shows the subject in its natural habitat.

Have you any advice for someone wishing to take up wildlife photography?
You can photograph wildlife virtually anywhere; set up a bird feeder in your garden and you can very easily get some nice shots. It is fairly accessible; many camera shops sell used equipment that can be bought relatively cheaply.

Where can people find your work?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/richardforsterwildlife2013
or on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rickforsterphotography/