Photographer living life on the wildside

AWARD winning wildlife photographer Lesley Wood waded through thigh-high mud to reach the ideal spot on a windswept Camargue beach in the South of France to capture some close-up shots of the of wild horses that would soon be galloping towards her.
As the herd closed in she turned to focus her camera on the lead stallion then lost her balance and fell backwards into the saltmarsh.
Dozens of fully grown Camargue horses were now bearing down on her position and the Stretton mum of two had no option but to crouch down while burying her head in her hands.
“Thankfully these beautiful, powerful horses galloped around me leaving me shaken but unhurt,” recalled Lesley.
“Unfortunately, my two £5,000 cameras ended up submerged in a muddy pool of water but I was safe.
“At the height of the incident, I was too busy trying to do my job to be terrified. It was dangerous but exhilarating. Happily I got some great shots of the horses charging across the beach towards me!” added Lesley, whose up-close and personal style of wildlife photography has provided her with a series of potentially life-or-death encounters around the world.
The one-time research biologist who swapped a life in a laboratory for the role of roving wildlife photographer has been charged by a bull elephant in Botswana, attacked by an angry male seal in the Galapagos Islands and had to fight off the attentions of an ‘army’ of sharp-jawed Leaf Cutter ants in the Amazonian rainforest.
“It’s true that I’ve had one or two other frightening experiences on my photographic expeditions to different parts of the world, “added Lesley who had a long and successful career as research boffin before being ‘smitten’ by the photography ‘bug.’
“But getting the right photograph at the right time is what it’s all about,” added Lesley who discovered her talent for animal and wildlife photography not long after starting her own photography business from home.
“I started out doing weddings, portraits and family shots but quickly discovered people also wanted memorable photographs of their dearly beloved pets. Then I won a prestigious national photographic award for a line-up of adorable Cavalier King Charles pups and it wasn’t long before other pet commissions came flooding in.
“I dropped the wedding photography and concentrated on people and their pets, mostly involving dogs. My shots managed to capture the bond between owners and their beloved pets. Soon people were asking me to photograph their horses – now equine photography, away from the show ring and out on location, is a hugely important part of my business.”
Lesley’s interest in animal photography grew so much so that she decided she would like to capture images of animals in the wild. And that led to her embarking on a series of photographic safaris around the globe.
“I’ve had some amazing trips including expeditions to Kenya, Botswana and South America and came away with a variety of stunning images, some of which adorn the walls of homes and offices across the UK and overseas.
“Yes, some of the situations I have been in were demanding and potentially dangerous. However, people do seem to like the realism and honesty of my work. That is why I am determined to continue with my photographic safaris.”
Those safaris are also important to Lesley’s growing army of fans because they are the source of the raft of wildlife photographs that they queue-up to buy. The images she produces end up on the walls of homes across the UK and further afield.
“I’m also determined to carry on with my overseas work to record the images of stunningly beautiful animals, a growing number of which are now endangered species,”
added Lesley. “As well as producing memorable photographs, I want to help make people aware of the threat to the world’s wildlife.
“That’s why a portion of the proceeds from the sale of my 2013 Calendar is going to the ‘Elephants for Africa’ appeal.
For further information on Lesley and her work visit www.wildearthfineart.com and www.lesleywoodphotography.co.uk