Devon is a conservation photographer based in Minnesota, USA. His work focuses on a variety of subjects, including tarantulas and urban owls.
- "I was simply terrified. I felt the whoosh of the current – then it was gone, leaving only a cloud of scales and blood swirling in my flashlight beam"
- “I once worked at an elevation of more than 5,000m in Bolivia and it was very difficult to breathe, eat and sleep.”
How did your career start?
I’ve loved animals my whole life. I’d often go birding and looking for insects in local parks and nature centres, which propelled a love for photography.
I got my first ‘wildlife’ lens, a Nikon 200-500, which led me into both wildlife photography and conservation storytelling. Photography is my way to give something back to nature, but I’ll never be able to repay fully.
Which of your photographs is most important to you?
A portrait of a tarantula at sunset. Tarantulas have been vilified and seen as monsters for millenia; this image shows just how non-confrontational they truly are. The sunset is the icing on the cake.
- From thumb-sized to dinner plate proportions, these are one of the most feared creepy-crawlies on the planet – but do they deserve their deadly reputation?
- How a giant, furry tarantula helped me overcome depression and anxiety – and why you should start loving these amazing arachnids too
What’s been your most memorable encounter with wildlife?
The first time I found a jumping spider. I was looking through my viewfinder, observing this little, big-eyed creature, when it turned and looked directly back at me, cocking its head. It reminded me of a dog cocking its head out of curiosity, and forever changed how I view arachnids and insects.
Have you ever found yourself in a precarious situation in the field?
Yes, when I was in Monteverde, Costa Rica, searching for long-tailed manakins. I was walking an isolated trail by myself, with no phone service, just before sunset. I suddenly realised I was very dehydrated and reached for my water bottle – and it wasn’t there.
Fighting tunnel vision, dizziness and an elevated heart rate, I managed to stumble back down the trail and narrowly avoided passing out. It was a simple mistake but could have led to a very hairy situation.
What’s been your most challenging project so far?
Photographing tarantulas on the move during the mating season in south-east Colorado. Unlike those of a jumping spider, a tarantula’s eyes are very small and tucked behind its pedipalps and front legs, so it’s a real challenge to get them in focus. I have many pictures of tarantulas in motion, but with their eyes covered by a raised limb.
Any epic fails to share?
There is always a major chance that I will epically fail whenever a tripod is involved, like the time I was shooting a long exposure of a river in Tettegouche State Park. I framed my shot and positioned my tripod on a large rock. I turned around for just a split second and... splash. Whoops.
Of all your shoots, which has been the most physically challenging?
Photographing pika in the upper reaches of Rocky Mountain National Park, at an elevation of about 3,600m. I’d never worked at such a high altitude before. But every time you hear a pika ‘yip’ or spot one darting from rock to rock, you forget about everything else pretty quickly.
What’s your dream subject?
The peacock jumping spiders – they are absolutely stunning. Their colours are so vibrant and their mating dances cannot be topped.
What’s the greatest level of discomfort you’ve had to endure on a shoot?
Photographing in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, was a real challenge. It was my first experience in a tropical climate and it was very wet. Keeping my gear free from moisture was a real task, especially when I could never fully dry my hands and my clothes were sticking to my body.
But with the diversity of wildlife I got to see and the stunning views, it was a minor inconvenience.
What one piece of kit would you not be without?
A quality backpack! Though I usually fill mine with way too much stuff.
Any top tips for budding photographers?
Find a mentor in somebody doing what you want to be doing. If they’re a wildlife photographer, ensure they practice ethically. The ILCP is a great place to start.
Discover more of Devon's work at devonmatthews.com.
- “I nearly lost my dive watch and a glove while ‘holding hands’ with an octopus in this way.”
- “The current was swirling in all directions and my buddy’s bubbles were heading downwards. Not a sight any diver wants to see...”
- “I was setting up a camera trap when we heard a trumpet. An elephant was charging, flattening every tree in its path.”
- "I was once charged by a musk ox – and they can shift. Fortunately, I could shift faster than the photographer I was with..."
Top image: Devon Matthews photographing a tarantula. Credit: Kristi Odom
