Nick Garbutt is a wildlife photographer, author and tour leader. His work has appeared in BBC Wildlife Magazine and National Geographic and is particularly interested in tropical rainforests and big cats.
- “I endured one and a half hours submerged in the freezing water, with only my head visible.” Wildlife photographer shares adventures above the Arctic Circle
- “We stopped to let a herd of elephants cross the road. One huge bull decided he didn’t like us.”
How did your career start?
While at university, I went on an expedition to Borneo to study proboscis monkeys. None of the team had any photography experience, so I borrowed a camera from my grandparents and became the ‘expedition photographer’. I read an Idiot’s Guide to photography on the plane and spent three months taking terrible pictures. But I was hooked.
Which of your images is most important to you?
A photo of a tiger walking away, taken in Kanha National Park in India. It won the Gerald Durrell Endangered Wildlife category in the 2000 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. It really helped to raise my profile.
What’s been your most memorable experience with wildlife?
The first time I saw a tiger in the wild, in 1985, in Kaziranga National Park in Assam. I can still remember seeing a tiger for the first time in a safari park when I was five or six years old, and being captivated. No other animal combines such beauty, aura and majesty. Even now, the hairs on the back of my neck bristle at the prospect of catching a glimpse of one in the wild.
What’s been your hairiest shoot?
Years ago, during a night walk in Ecuador, I found a false coral snake. It was partially covered by vegetation, which I – stupidly – tried to remove for a photo. I was bitten and suffered 48 hours of excruciating pain and partial paralysis of my hand.
Any epic fails to share?
Back in the days of film, I travelled to a remote region in northern Madagascar to photograph the rare golden-crowned sifaka lemur. I had to trek miles at dawn to catch them in early light. On the first day, I took just two shots, came to the end of a roll, and realised I’d left all my spare rolls back at base.
Which species are on your bucket list?
I’ve photographed all seven of the world’s big cats and many of the smaller species – I’m keen to keep adding to this list. Next year I hope to photograph a Pallas’s cat for the first time. I’d also love to photograph a Gaboon viper in the wild.
What’s been your biggest challenge?
I was once commissioned by a German magazine to take photos of the straw-coloured fruit bat migration to Kasanka National Park in Zambia. I had five days and hadn’t visited the site previously.
I was really under the cosh to come up with results. It opened my eyes to the way so many news, sports and some wildlife photographers must have to work all the time. My respect levels skyrocketed.
Do you regularly experience discomfort?
I’ve been frozen like an ice block, overheated to the point of melting and immersed in water for hours. But dealing with swarms of midges on a windless summer morning by a Scottish sea loch ranks among the worst.
What is a favourite species to focus on?
Over the past 30 years I’ve been obsessed with the wildlife of Madagascar, particularly the many species of lemur. But the island’s largest carnivore, the cat-like fosa, is a favourite too. Until recently there were few decent images of the species. I’ve managed to get photos that are a bit different, including shots of one ascending a tree trunk coming towards the camera.
What item would you not be without?
At one time, without hesitation, I would have said my Really Right Stuff tripod, as I believed every shot should be taken on a rock-solid base. But now, high ISO performance is so good I’ll happily take photos handheld in some circumstances.
Any top tips for budding photographers?
Don’t expect overnight success. Develop a tough skin and don’t take no for an answer. Find a niche or subject, no matter how small or specialised, that’s not well covered and build a catalogue of images to showcase it from every angle and perspective.
Find out more about Nick's work on his website.
Top image: Nick looking for pumas in Torres del Paine, Chile.
