Steve & Ann Toon, Light, Big Game, Action - Tuesday 22nd October 2019.

   

On Tuesday 22nd October, Morpeth Camera Club hosted a Special Event open evening with wildlife photographers Steve
and Ann Toon who gave a talk entitled 'Light, Big Game, Action - Photographing on the Wild Side!' The couple, who live
in the Northumberland National Park, visited South Africa for a holiday which proved unexpectedly to be a life changing
experience. Being journalists they decided upon a career change and embarked on a new life as professional wildlife
photographers.

Having no formal training and using basic equipment they took a sabbatical for six months travelling through Namibia’s
game parks. They fell in love with the diverse wild life, the wilderness of South Africa and soon realised that they didn’t
want to return to the humdrum of London life.

With no deadlines to meet, being their own editors, they began to write articles and books in order to make a living in
this competitive genre. Self driving in the cheapest car, sleeping out in the bush and working long days they set out to
photograph, not just standard shots of wildlife but looked out for the unusual, more intimate aspects of animal life. The
audience enjoyed close up images of wonderful inquisitive wild animals who would approach the car and become more
relaxed in the presence of humans which enabled Steve and Ann to anticipate their behaviour and capture the unusual
shots they were seeking. We saw wonderful images, taken in varying light, of gazelle, elephant, lion, tigers & leopards,
rim lit at dawn and grazing in glorious sunsets. By using your eyes and your heart you are able to provide the pictures
which make clients and agencies happy, and to produce saleable images which have impact, Ann explained.

It was important to provide a fresh take on wildlife and to expand the range of interest so they embarked on camera
trapping, where cameras are activated by heat and movement, which resulted in spectacular images of rarely seen
nocturnal animals, relaxed in their natural habitat. Still being journalists at heart their work included a project on raising
awareness of rhino poaching and another relating to the control of elephant population revealed to the audience graphic
images of elephant vasectomies. Following on from their success in raising awareness they were awarded a grant which
allowed them to choose a project of their choice which took them to Thailand, whose fashionable and very valuable wood
is being harvested illegally, depleting the forests, and denying the wildlife of their habitat. Challenged by torrential rain
and the danger of armed gangs, they accompanied anti poaching patrols and captured not only a human story but issues
of wildlife welfare.

Leading specialist photographic safaris in North Botswana provided something entirely different; using special low boats
on the Chobe River, we enjoyed stunning images of elephants bathing and inquisitive hippos which approached the boat,
enabling them to be photographed at eye level. Steve and Ann enjoy using hides, especially the Zimanga Hides, with a
comfortable bed and wifi access, and where photographs can be taken at ground level through specialised glass. We then
witnessed brilliant shots of hyenas, zebra and elephants all of which were prelit and reflected perfectly in the water hole.
Ending the first half of their presentation Steve said that one has to have a passion for this work, entailing long days
travelling miles in the hope of photographing something different.

The second half was devoted to useful tips on wildlife photography. They explained that they are not gear freaks, and
that they use few cameras but include a good variety of lenses. There are no strict guidelines to their work but they use
three simple ingredients, light, subject and composition and use each other as their harshest critics. Golden light as the
sun rises creates long shadows, photographing into the light can also be used to silhouette and together with a rim light
this brings out the form and shape of the subject and adds to the atmosphere. We all know what an animal looks like
said Steve, but by adding the drama of a sunrise it places an animal in its environment and provides added value to the
image. Quality not quantity is key they said; one can take a thousand shots on safari but can end up with only 100 which
make the grade, so be picky. Photographing lying down adds a new perspective and make sure to take into consideration
a background which harmonises with the subject.

Over the years Steve and Ann have spent a great deal of time observing patterns of behaviour. To be able to anticipate
what an animal will do next can be very rewarding when documenting lifestyle. Attention to detail is very important, use
patience, and try to have in mind what you want to take. Use bad weather to your advantage, stormy skies add drama
to the scene. Use natural patterns to produce interesting shapes and be adventurous with cropping, examples of which
were scenes which were naturally bordered by the trunk of an elephant, of an arch of branches and of a tightly cropped
lion’s face which was full of character. Capturing images of families adds intimacy, affection, bonding and humour. Be
prepared to use specialist guides as it pays to use local knowledge. To conclude their presentation they stated that
although cameras today are excellent and can produce great images, it is patience and the anticipation that something
is going to happen which makes for a great photograph.

This was an extremely entertaining and informative presentation, with smooth interaction between the speakers, Steve
and Ann provided an insight into their exciting life of photography in the wild.

Steph.