BRET CHARMAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Home
  • Bret's Blog
  • Portfolio
  • Galleries
    • British Wildlife
    • Australia
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Rest of World
  • About Me
    • Partners
    • Awards
  • Workshops & Tours
  • Prints
  • Contact

Autumn in Richmond Park

31/10/2020

0 Comments

 
Richmond Park is one of the jewels in the Royal Parks' crown, a wildlife haven in the heart of one of Europe's largest conurbations. Red deer, little owls, badgers and even ring-necked parakeets. I spent numerous weekends journeying up the A3 early to photograph the red deer rut, meeting friends and enjoying the cool autumnal air - the photographic opportunities were excellent. 
Red deer stag with bracken in his antlers, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
Jackdaw perched on branch, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
Ring-necked parakeet hanging out of tree hollow, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
As you can see, the photographic highlights are not only limited to the red deer that call the park home. Above you can see an image of a jackdaw, arguably one of the UK's most beautiful corvids and a ring-necked parakeet (an introduced species from the Indian subcontinent). 
A red deer picks up a little too much bracken with its antlers, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
A red deer stag stands proudly with an impressive head dress, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
The deer stags are well known for thrashing their antlers in the bracken, and other undergrowth, when they are pumped full of testosterone. In this case, he took it all a little far and then struggled to see where he was going. This individual stag was not one of the dominant males, and he will probably have to wait another year or two to reach his absolute prime. 
Red deer stag at sunrise, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
Red deer steaming at sun rise, Richmond parknd
A red deer stag breathes out in the cool morning air at sunrise, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
As you can see from the images above, the red deer often stand proudly as the sun rises over the horizon, seemingly basking in the soft morning light. 
Dominant red deer stag calling to assert dominance, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
Red deer stag bellowing in the bracken, Richmond Park (Bret Charman)
It was a great few weeks enjoying the wilder side of London and as long as you avoid the crowds, you can expect to see some spectacular behaviour. Next year, if I get to lead my planned tours (if Covid allows), then I won't be able to photograph this annual spectacle. 
0 Comments

Red Squirrels of the Cairngorms

27/9/2020

0 Comments

 
After lockdown eased here in the UK, I went for a little adventure to the Scottish highlands. This stunning mountainous realm is home to a range of wildlife I don't find in Hampshire, including the red squirrel, crested tit and capercaillae. I spent a day in a hide on the Rothiemurchus Estate, built by Neil McIntyre, photographing the gorgeous red squirrels in the stunning heather-filled Caledonian forest. 
Red squirrel feeding with heather in foreground, Cairngorms (Bret Charman)
Red squirrel portrait on tree stump with heather, Cairngorms (Bret Charman)
Jumping red squirrel, Cairngorms National Park (Bret Charman)
Although I only spent the one day with the squirrels, I was easily able to capture a wide range of imagery, of which these are just a few.
0 Comments

Roe Deer 2020

3/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Well who expected 2020 to be like it has? It has been a year of change, uncertainty and anxiety for many, but the natural world goes on and I have tried to spend as much time as possible out photographing the roe deer once again. 

I may have not been able to lead my overseas photography tours for Wildlife Worldwide, but I just love being in the field with wildlife and capturing images. I hope you enjoy looking through this year's imagery of my beloved roe deer.
Roe deer female in spring grasses, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
Roe deer in sunlit grasses, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
This year I struggled to find any males to start with, instead focusing on a number of different females who had hidden their young around the estate I photograph on. 
Female roe deer in field of barley, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
Roe deer portrait in field of barley, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
Young roe deer in field of wheat, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
As summer intensified and the crops turned to the golden browns, the roe deer rut was in full swing and allowed me the opportunity to photograph roe bucks in their prime. 
Roe deer buck in golden barley, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck in a field of barley, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck in arable field margin, Hampshire (Bret Charman)
I am looking forward to 2021 to hopefully spend some time with the roe deer once again. They have become a big part of my life and probably what I am best known for within the UK.
0 Comments

Rural Fox Cubs

21/7/2020

2 Comments

 
For many years I have struggled to find a family of rural foxes which I was able to photograph. Most rural foxes, and rightly so, are very wary of people and I usually don't want to disturb them. This year though, I stuck gold when out cycling, I cam across a family of foxes sunbathing on a rural lane, so I decided to head back to photograph them. 

Upon arriving at the site I couldn't see anything, but I decided to stick it out and I was richly rewarded ... 
Fox cubs, Hampshire by Bret Charman
Fox cub portrait by Bret Charman
Fox cubs enjoying the evening sun by Bret Charman
Fox cub sleeping in the road
Fox cubs watching the photographer in road by Bret Charman
Fox cub in the rural road by Bret Charman
Fox cub resting in road in front of car by Bret Charman
As you can see, even a rural road gets traffic. Each time a car appeared, all of the cubs jumped into the hedgerow, taking cover in their earth and keeping out of trouble. Sadly, only a few days after I took the photo above, I found the body of this cub hidden in the hedge. It had been hit by a car and purposefully placed out of sight, it was a devastating blow and I was unable to photograph the family again - rightly so, the remaining cubs were very wary. It just goes to show the fragility of the natural world and the massive negative impact humanity has on the natural world. 
2 Comments

Zambia’s Wildlife Photography Extravaganza– Week 1

4/1/2020

0 Comments

 
Back in November 2020 I was privileged enough to lead three back-to-back photographic safaris in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. I used to work in the Luangwa Valley, back before I worked in the UK in the wildlife travel business, so I am very familiar with the wildlife and it is like home from home for me. The week before my first guests arrived, I went to a national park I hadn’t previously heard of – Luambe National Park. In fact, a friend of mine (and my old boss) now runs the only accommodation in the park and offered to show me around.

So here is a little taster of my first week back in the Zambian bush, the place where I probably feel most at home. As well as Luambe, I went for a few game drives in the Mfuwe sector of South Luangwa National Park – so believe me when I tell you that the wildlife sightings were world class.
​
I hope you enjoy an image-based round up of week one … 
Leopard, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (Bret Charman)
Nile crocodile, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (Bret Charman)
Male lion,  South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (Bret Charman)
Lion cub, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (Bret Charman)
African wild dogs or painted wolves, Luambe National Park, Zambia (Bret Charman)
The African wild dogs (or painted wolves) were taken in Luambe National Park whilst staying at the truly stunning Luambe Camp. I can't recommend this remote and beautiful camp highly enough, so please do visit the website to find out more. 

P.S. The next few posts show even more variety and a whole host of cats ... 
0 Comments

Romania's Danube Delta

9/12/2019

2 Comments

 
​Back in September I went on a trip for Wildlife Worldwide to Romania’s Danube Delta (for the first time). I had heard great things about Europe’s largest river delta and knew whatever happened, I would experience somewhere completely different to anywhere I had been before. 
 
I stayed at the purpose-built property known as Ultimate Frontiera. Specially designed for wildlife photographers , the purpose-built hides are spread across the estate and provide the opportunities to photography a myriad of different species. On my first morning in the hides I was hoping to photograph the pygmy cormorant, an elusive and rarely seen species. I did get a couple of shots of pygmy cormorant, but it was a common kingfisher that proved to be a real delight, posing perfectly in front of the hide only a few metres away. I have tried photographing kingfishers in the UK and never had any luck, whether it be from purpose-built hides or sitting patiently on a river bank. So, finally, to be rewarded with shots like this was a real treat.
 
It wasn’t just kingfishers that proved to be particularly cooperative, we were treated to some great views of little owl, a wide variety of small woodland passerines, squacco heron and great white pelicans. We were even luckier in the fact we got to see a solitary Dalmatian pelican, of which there are fewer than 2,000 left in the world.
Common kingfisher, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Common kingfisher on branch, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Common kingfisher with blue background, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Little owl in window, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Little owl on abandoned building roof, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Squacco heron, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
It also proved to be a particularly reliable place to photography golden jackal, which are moving further west into Europe each year. 
 
It was a great place for anyone with a passion for bird photography, and I can only imagine that during the spring it is full of life. I highly recommend you join Wildlife Worldwide in May to get your very own Romanian bird photography fix.
 
I hope you like the pictures – and don’t forget to head off to Romania and see it for yourself!
Golden jackal, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
Great white pelicans, Danube Delta, Romania, Bret Charman
2 Comments

Finland's Finest Wildlife

5/9/2019

0 Comments

 
I have been extremely fortunate, leading photography trips to Finland’s remote Boreal forests for a few years now. However, the first night of the trip I led for Wildlife Worldwide earlier this year, was without doubt one of the finest wildlife watching/photography experiences of my life.

It all started as we settled into our hides for the first night. Our cameras were still being set up, we hadn’t even sat down when a young wolf appeared on the edge of the treeline. By the time we had all of our gear ready, the wolf had disappeared, but it didn’t take long for our first photographic opportunity. To start with, it was bears galore. Coming to feed on the scraps and carcass that had been left out (this is all done under license and is strictly regulated).
 
As the evening flew by the wolves were joined by a pair of wolves, the alpha male and the new alpha female. I know the male well, having photographed him many times before and I did see the female last year. Below you can see a number of images from across our 4 nights in the hides and the video of what proved to be a moment of a lifetime.
Brown bear in Finland by Bret Charman
Wolf in Finland by Bret Charman
Wolf and bear in Finland by Bret Charman
Wolf in Finland by Bret Charman
​As the light started to fade, a lone wolf was wandering across the marshy ground in front of the hides. It was then that another wolf begin to howl in the trees to our left. Incredibly the whole packed joined in, pups and all, and finally the lone wolf joined in too. As I write this I have goosebumps thinking back to it, a tingling sensation down my spine, for it was the most astonishing noise I have ever heard. To be so close to such an incredible evocative noise was a moment I will long cherish and to get it on camera is even more special. 
Bear in Finland by Bret Charman
Wolverine in Finland by Bret Charman
Wolverine in Finland by Bret Charman
Be sure to join me as I lead another Finland’s Boreal Predators photography tour for Wildlife Worldwide in 2020. 
0 Comments

Summer Roe Deer

27/7/2019

0 Comments

 
As those of you that follow my work regularly will know I spend my summers photographing a number of different species, but one I always return to is the roe deer. This species of deer (native to the UK) are particularly elusive, but are surely the most beautiful of species found here in the UK. I have spent many years perfecting my stalking and am very proud of the images I have been able to capture in the past.

This year I really feel that my work with the deer as at another level and I am really pleased with the results. The only downside is that after an incident I have been unable to run any workshops – my sincerest apologies to those that wanted to join me this year.

​Anyway, I will now just let the images do the talking – I hope you enjoy them … 
Roe deer buck, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck in field of oats, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck in field of oats, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck in barley, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer in field of oats, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck on edge of oil seed rape, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck backlit at sunset, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
Roe deer buck backlit at sunset, Hampshire, South Downs National Park (Bret Charman)
I hope you enjoyed looking through the above, I just wish I hadn't been driven away from the site for a period of time. Hopefully in 2020 I can offer the opportunity to come out with me once again.
0 Comments

Puffins All Around Me

1/7/2019

0 Comments

 
2019 marks the third year in a row that I have led dedicated photography tours to Skomer Island in Wales for Wildlife Worldwide, focusing on the charismatic Atlantic puffin. This rocky outcrop in the Irish Sea is home to nearly 30,000 puffins and a staggering 750,000 Manx shearwaters.
 
The weather on my two visits so far this year was pretty varied with sunshine, heavy rain and very strong winds all playing a roll. Sadly, during the evenings (when the puffins are most active) the weather was usually pretty dire – lots of rain, strong winds and sea spray.

Of course, I still managed to capture a few other shots which are worthy of a little attention. So sit back, relax and get your annual puffin-fix below … 
Puffin portrait in sea campion, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Atlantic puffins in flight, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Puffin with sand eels in bracken, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Puffin in bracken, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Puffin flying in the rain, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
I did have the privilege to enjoy one spectacular sunrise though and managed to capture some stunning shots of the birds as they returned to their nests. I also managed to get a few shots of razorbills, oystercatcers and guillemots. 
Razorbill perched on a cliff ledge, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Oystercatcher in bracken, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Guillemot flying at sunrise, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Atlantic puffin flying at sunrise, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Puffin portrait in the morning sun, Skomer Island, Wales (Bret Charman)
Be sure to join Wildlife Worldwide for Skomer's Perfect Puffins in 2020 - dates will be released in October so keep your eyes peeled. Depending on the dates I may well be back yet again.
0 Comments

Zimbabwe's Mana Pools: The Dynasties Sequel - Part 4

7/2/2019

0 Comments

 
At the end of the dry season, the heat in Mana Pools National Park just seems to build up and up. A natural crescendo, until eventually the rains come and bring a little relief. In early November though, the rains had still not arrived and day time temperatures were regularly hitting 44 degrees Celsius.

​Driving through the park on this particular morning, it felt like you were in the firing line of an industrial hairdryer, a stifling, warm breeze filling the air and making it feel a little uncomfortable. We were back in search of the wild dogs once more. Having spent the previous afternoon on the river, it seemed like we had to catch up with the dogs and find out what they were up to.

​However, no matter how hard we tried, we were unable to find the dogs on this particular morning. Instead we found a very sociable, and approachable, flock of long-tailed starlings. When a group of wildlife photographers are together,  any slightly different  subject just means you have something new to focus on. Later on we managed to find the small pride of lions, two adult females and a young male and spent a bit of time watching and photographing them before heading back to camp for lunch.
Long-tailed (Meves') starling (Bret Charman)
Young male lion, Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
Immature male lion, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe (Bret Charman)
​The majority of the group decided to go out on the river once more this afternoon, all but one, who wanted to head out after the dogs once more. In order to keep the group size manageable for the canoe safari, I headed out with the one client and our guide Daryl. Well there is no other way to describe the afternoon with the dogs, other than that it was pretty magical. It was only going to be a shorter game drive/walk as we had arranged a BBQ on the banks of the Zambezi up stream of our camp.

​We found the dogs resting in the same drying river gulley we had left them a few days earlier. As there was only three of us, we slowly made our way towards the pack, taking our time and keeping the noise to a minimum. The whole pack were so incredibly relaxed and we were able to get extremely close. This encounter was right up there with my very best anywhere in the world, probably only coming second to coming face-to-face with the gorillas.
Sleeping African wild dog, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
Painted wolf fast asleep, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
​I am not really going to say much more, other than that it was a real privilege. The following pictures and footage can do all the talking for me. 
Playing painted wolf puppies, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
African wild dog puppies greet each other in shallow pool, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe (Bret Charman)
African wild dog pup greets and adult, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe (Bret Charman)
Painted wolf pups bonding, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
Sleepy wild dog pups, Zimbabwe (Bret Charman)
Yawning African wild dog, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
Painted wolf portrait, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
If you would like to join me in October 2019, we still have a few spaces remaining. You can find out more and book your place by visiting the Wildlife Worldwide website. 
0 Comments

Zimbabwe's Mana Pools: The Dynasties Sequel - Part 3

5/2/2019

0 Comments

 
t was the half-way point on Wildlife Worldwide’s inaugural Mana Pools: Wild Dogs & Elephants Photography tour, but today would prove to be a little different. As with any day in Mana Pools National Park, we arose bright and early, ready to search for the painted wolves once more.
 
This morning it took as a while to find the dogs, they had moved deep into the scrub, away from the alluvial plains of the Zambezi and we found them resting near a dry pan. The habitat here reminded me of some the southern areas of South Luangwa, it was very different from the open forest of the valley floor. The pack were busy doing what they do best after a night’s rest, playing. The young adults and the pups were running around at full pelt, leaping over fallen trees, just enjoying themselves. It is always an honour when wild animals allow you to approach to on foot and we were spoiled on this particular morning.
 
About an hour after we had climbed out of the vehicles, the alpha pair decided it was time to move on in a determined manner. This usually only means one thing, they are looking for breakfast. The speed at which the dogs can move is incredible. African wild dogs are athletes of the highest pedigree and in order to keep up with them, we had to jump in the vehicles once more. 
Painted wolves play in Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
African wild dog, Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
​They were heading back down onto the flood plain and when we caught up with them they were half heartedly chasing a warthog. Then, in a bizarre moment, a small herd of impala approached the dogs and a more determined hunt began. This time, when we had caught up with the pack, they had brought down a pregnant impala. The following images highlight what happened next … 
African wild dogs with impala kill (Bret Charman)
Painted wolf puppies play with the carcass of an unborn impala fawn (Bret Charman)
Blacktip and her pack feed on an impala carcass in Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
The pack seemingly target pregnant female impala at the end of the dry season and on this particular morning they pulled down an individual with an unborn youngster. Of course, sights like this are hard to see, but it is nature and to witness this behaviour is actually an honour. You can see two of the pups above playing with the foetus. 

Once the dogs had finished with the kill, the hyenas quickly moved in ... 
Young spotted hyena waits to feed on a wild dog kill (Bret Charman)
Two hyenas fight over an impala carcass in Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
After watching the hyenas fight over the impala remains, we followed the wild dogs down to long pool. We left them to it and decided to spend a little time photographing a pod of hippos. 
Picture
The afternoon was a different proposition altogether. My group had gone out looking for the painted wolves on every single drive, so we decided that this afternoon we would head out on a canoe safari down the mighty Zambezi. 

If you haven't ever been on a canoe safari ... well you must! Here is a little taster for you. The proximity you can have with the elephants when on a canoe is truly remarkable. The video footage below was taken on my phone ... 
Picture
Elephant in the waters of the Zambezi River (Bret Charman)
Canoe safari on the Zambezi with elephants (Bret Charman)
Elephants cross the Zambezi River on the edge of Mana Pools National Park (Bret Charman)
Be sure to join me later this year in Mana Pools for incredible encounters with African wild dogs and elephants. Please visit the Wildlife Worldwide website for more information. 
0 Comments

Office Owls

6/8/2018

0 Comments

 
I am really proud to work and lead trips for Wildlife Worldwide, one of the UK’s largest specialists in wildlife travel. What I particularly enjoy is that the office is set within an old barn in the charming village of Bishop’s Sutton, what’s more is we have a resident pair of barn owls.
​
Earlier on in the summer I spent a bit of time trying to photograph the owls. They are really easy to spot, but not so easy to photograph, particularly as there are quite a few buildings around. Anyway, here is a little taster of what I have been privileged enough to watch after finishing work in the evenings.
Barn owl hunting over meadow in Hampshire
Barn owl flying across a meadow at sunset
Barn owl backlit by the setting sun in Hampshire
0 Comments

Seriously... Skomer again?

14/7/2018

0 Comments

 
That's right folks, I have been to Skomer once more and it still isn't enough. It is never enough!!!

My third and final visit of the year was leading Wildlife Worldwide's second Skomer's Perfect Puffins tour in 2018. It as a roaring success and I was joined by acclaimed photographer and film maker Ben Cherry - check out his awesome work here. 

Now then, normally a visit to Skomer Island coincides with gale force winds, lashing rain or perhaps ice blasts. Well this trip was a little different - it was quite literally like being on an island in the Mediterranean summer. To be succinct, it was sublime. 

To top it all off, we had a great group of people and some fabulous wildlife and epic light. You really cannot ask for more than that. So on to the pictures...
Puffin in vegetation on Skomer Island
Puffin yawning on Skomer Island
Puffin portrait on Skomer Island
When it comes to photographing puffins, it nearly always starts with a classic portrait. It is just good to get yourself warmed up, then you can start to be a little more creative and try a few different types of shots. 

For me, having already accumulated thousands of images of puffin, I now try to capture something different and this trip was no exception. What was incredible though, was watching the sun rise over the Pembrokeshire peninsula and setting over the Irish Sea, without there being a single moment it disappeared behind a cloud. So we enjoyed wall to wall sunshine from 4.45 all the way through to 22.00. Remarkable!

​It also wasn't just about puffins. When you have guillemots, razorbills and a friendly seal there are near endless photographic opportunities. 
Guillemot silhouette with the run rise behind
Young grey seal portrait
Backlit razorbill as the sunrise illuminates the sea off Skomer Island
Backlit puffin coming in to land on Skomer Island
Puffin landing with a beak full of sand eels
After a the magic of being able to photograph the puffins in some wonderful light, our final excursion was out to Grassholm island in search of one of the world's largest northern gannet colonies. Here is just a little taster of what this remarkable place looks like... 
Gannet colony of Grassholm, Wales
You can register your interest for Skomer's Perfect Puffins in 2019 here. Dates should be released by the end of October 2018 so please be patient. 
0 Comments

A Wild Time in Finland

2/7/2018

0 Comments

 
It has been a crazy few months for me – I have been leading trips left, right and centre. No moaning from me though as it has been absolute delight to take so many fantastic people all over Europe, showing them some of the most incredible wildlife and hopefully helping them get some great images too!

The next instalment in this summer’s schedule was a trip to one of my favourite spots, right on the Finland’s eastern border with Russia. It is here I lead Wildlife Worldwide’s Boreal Predators Photography tour, which gives my clients a chance to photograph European brown bear, grey wolf and the feisty wolverine.

All I can really say about this year’s tour was wow, wow and well… WOW!

​We were treated to a remarkable number of sightings of all three species and the photography opportunities were mesmerising. Even with a faulty camera I was able to capture some awesome images, my clients images really blew me away so it was a hugely successful trip.

And now to the photos, all I will say is that I hope you enjoy them…
A bear wanders across a clearing in Finland's boreal forests
Brown bear by a small lake in Finland
Grey wolf standing in cotton grass, Finland
It must be said that every night in the hides was productive and they allowed the entire group to capture a wonderful array of images. What I have included here are just a small taster. I have only included on wolverine as I was always in a hide that didn't have the prime views. 

It is very important to me that my clients are the ones who get the best images, after all it is their holiday and I want them to get the most out of the experience. 
Wolverine in Finnish forest
On the last night of the trip the whole group were treated to some breathtaking sightings and unrivalled photography opportunities. 
Brown bear wanders across a swamp landscape in Finland
Brown bear feeding on a reindeer carcass in Finland
Wolf appears on the edge of the treeline at sunset
Wolf stands in a clearing in FInland's boreal forest
Wolf in cotton grass, Finland
Wolf portrait in Finland
The images above (I think at least) perfectly demonstrate why Finland is such a superb destination for a photography holiday. The light is absolutely brilliant, the wildlife is stunning and the photography is very hard to beat. 

So if you fancy joining me in 2019 for another foray into the boreal forests of Finland, be sure to visit Wildlife Worldwide's website for more information. 
0 Comments

Skomer’s Perfect Owls... I mean Puffins!

5/6/2018

0 Comments

 
Yes that’s right everyone, I have been back to Skomer once again. This time I was leading Wildlife Worldwide’s Skomer's Perfect Puffins trip – a short three day break on this stunning island and our timing could not have been better. It is the height of the breeding season on Skomer for pretty much everything that calls the island home and my clients were spoiled for choice.

We arrived on the island and found one of the resident short-eared owls resting right by the old farm, our base for the next two nights. We immediately got out the camera gear and started taking a few pictures of the owl, which had decided to rest only 20 yards from the path and was surrounded by the stunning floral display of red campion.

If only I had known that the owls would be so cooperative, that way we could have spent all our time at the farm and ignored everything else. Of course I am only joking! Now to some photos, just to whet your appetite… 
Swallow resting on a fence post
Female whitethroat in red campion
Whitethroat portrait
​For most people it is the large colony of puffins that draws them on to the island, but once they arrive they realise there is so much more on offer. We were particularly lucky as we had a whole day on the island to ourselves as the day boats were cancelled – it was heavenly. The island’s carpet of red campion was accompanied by an infusion of bluebells and led to a stunning patchwork display of colour. You really can’t ask for me when you have such a beautiful scene all to yourselves. As well as the owls there were a very obliging pair of whitethroat around the farm and of course the breeding swallows that seem to breed here every year. 
Short-eared owl in flight
Short-eared owl resting in red campion
Short-eared owl hunting over red campion
Short-eared owl resting in bluebells
Short-eared owl hunting at sunrise
​Of course, I managed to get a few puffin photos too… 
Puffin portrait with outstretched wings
Puffin portrait in the rain
An Atlantic puffin shakes off the rain
As you can see from the images above, we were blessed with some amazingly cooperative wildlife and the scenery was absolutely stunning.

Having the owls put on a display like this is particularly rare and the whole group made the most of it, but the puffins still seem to be the main draw for most. If you would like to join me on Skomer Island, then you will need to contact Wildlife Worldwide here.

Just to warn you... There is a huge amount of interest in the trip and with limited spaces there is a long waitlist.
0 Comments

Bears, Owls & Caves - Slovenia

27/5/2018

0 Comments

 
My first photography tour of 2018 was to the beautiful country of Slovenia. In the middle of May, I took 8 clients with me to the Dinaric Alps, where everyone was hoping to photograph brown bear. This was Wildlife Worldwide's Brown Bear Photography tour. 

Now I need to make something clear from the start, Slovenia is one of Europe's hidden gems. It is a country filled with history, stunning landscapes and fabulous wildlife. To top it all off, the food is fantastic.

Slovenia's Dinaric Alps, in the southern reaches of the country, are home to between 700 and 800 bear, one of Europe's most important populations. This karst landscape, filled with caves, disappearing rivers and lakes, also supports and array of other species including Ural owl, beech marten and even wolf. 

This trip was focused on the bears and the Ural owl, with of course the stunning mountains, wild flower meadows and charming villages as a wonderful backdrop. Over the course of the next 6 days we were treated to some superb encounters and all of the clients managed to capture some excellent images. 
Brown bear in the forest of Slovenia
Standing brown bear in Slovenian forest
Brown bear in evening sun, Slovenia
Portrait of a brown bear in Slovenia
After a great first night in the hides we went in search of the Ural owls and were blessed with some great encounters. Slovenia is home to the highest density of breeding Ural owl in Europe, so with a bit pf persistence, you can often come away with some good photography. 
Ural owl in a beech forest in Slovenia
Ural owl in flight
The karst limestone landscape is famed for its caves and Slovenia is no different. If you read my last blog post on Slovenia (from last year), you will have seen that I visited Križna jama - a beautiful cave filled with water. We journey a few kilometres underground and explore the remarkable caverns and their unique rock formations.
Križna jama cave in Slovenia
Of course, for most people it is all about the bears and that was this unique trip is all about. So all of the group spent the majority of their afternoons in the hides, waiting for the bears to show themselves. 
Brown bear in the trees
Brown bear in Slovenia's forest landscape
As you can see from all of the images above, Slovenia offers something very different from other bear watching destinations and it really is quite magical.

If you would like to join me on this amazing trip in 2019 then please head over to Wildlife Worldwide and find out more.
0 Comments

The Roe and the Oilseed

20/5/2018

0 Comments

 
As many of you will know, I live on the edge of the South Downs National Park. This is the UK’s newest national park, a range of stunning hills and rolling farmland, and is home to staggering number of roe deer.

I have become pretty good at photographing roe deer and luckily for me, I can often see them right behind my own house. In mid-May I noticed a handsome buck as I arrived home from the office and spent around 40 minutes trying to work out my approach. The wind had been swirling and it was nearly impossible to get close enough as there was a real lack of cover.

​Eventually, I was able to get within 20 yards and the deer ended up approaching me – the perfect scenario. 
Roe deer buck
To start with the male deer was actually too close to photograph, his inquisitive nature meant he approached to within only a few yards. I stayed perfectly still, the deer alert to my presence watched me, but never tried to run. It slowly moved away and into the dense crop of oilseed. 
Roe deer in crop field
Roe deer buck in yellow oilseed crop
Roe deer in yellow crop
As you can see, I was blessed with a very cooperative buck, standing beautifully in the yellow flowers of the oilseed crop. It wasn't the longest photography session, as the deer decided to slowly move away into the deepest part of the field, but I managed to capture some beautiful imagery in the short time I was there. 

All of the images were taken on my 500mm lens, which is usually perfect for photographing roe deer.
0 Comments

Finland's Predators

29/6/2017

3 Comments

 
A land of countless lakes and seemingly infinite forests, Finland is one of Europe’s wilder corners. In recent years the country has become well regarded as the finest bear watching location outside of the Americas.

However, I had heard of a particular location (right on the Russian border), where it was possible to see and even photograph European Brown Bear, Wolverine and even Wolf. This place sounded too good to be true! So after a lot of digging and hours of reading through reports, I had all of the information I needed.
​
In the end I decided it would be a great place to run a wildlife photography tour with Wildlife Worldwide. We have named the tour ‘Boreal Predators Photography’ and it certainly lived up to its name this year. Towards the end of June I set off with 6 eager clients, all keen to photograph the iconic species of this border region, or ‘no man’s land’, between Finland and Russia.

Now I must start by saying that Finland hasn’t really had a spring in 2017, and therefore all the wildlife’s behaviour has been particularly unpredictable. We spent a total of 4 nights in the hides, all of which were different. This year was particularly cold, which makes it much harder to get comfortable within the hides, but our perseverance paid off in the end.
​
The first night was a little disappointing with only a couple of bears seen at a bit of a distance, one of which was particularly nervous. Don’t get me wrong, it is still incredible to see the magnificent mammals, it was only disappointing from a photographic opportunity point of view. 

Picture
​ 
The second and third nights made up for it though, with at least 4 different wolverine spotted across 3 locations (the group had to be split on the second evening), the very nervous bear made another appearance and the icing on the cake had to be two Grey Wolves seen on both nights. On the second evening, a client and I were treated to a pair of Wolverine – the light was at its worst when they appeared, but we got a few acceptable shots in the end. Just as we thought the evening was coming to a close, it was probably around 3 am, I noticed a light shape moving on the edge of the forest. It was obscured by a light mist, but there was no mistaking what we had in front of us. It was a Grey Wolf … in fact there were two wolves. It was a magical encounter, a real privilege and a challenge to photograph in such low light and the mist. 
Picture
Wolverine
Picture
Grey Wolf
Picture
Grey Wolf in the mist
It was the last night of the trip when everything really came together. We were only going to be in the hides until around midnight as we had to leave first thing for our flight back to Helsinki. I decided we should try our luck at the pond, where I had previously seen the two Wolverine and wolves.

I can honestly say that the evening was one of the very best I have had in my career. The light wasn’t necessarily the best, but the sightings we had are some of the finest anyone could possibly ask for. In fact, the evening actually started relatively slowly. It all seemed like it might be disappointing end to the trip.
​
As the sun was losing its strength and retreating over the tree line, one of my group spotted a large bear moving through some marshy ground. It was heading right at us, slowly powering through the swamp. You could hear the strength of every movement, it was absolutely incredible. The bear posed perfectly for us and the whole group managed to get some wonderful shots. Having had its fill on the salmon scraps left out, the bear slowly made its way back towards the forest, slowly melding into its wooded surrounds.
Picture
Brown Bear
Picture
Dribbling Brown Bear
Picture
Brown Bear
Having had such a remarkable encounter, everybody seemed to be settling back into their seats (figuratively speaking), when I noticed a familiar light shape on the edge of the treeline. I stopped myself from saying anything, took a breath, then raised my binoculars and my jaw slowly dropped. I knew what it was, but I didn’t really believe we could be so lucky. Surely I was suffering from sleep deprivation?

There some 70 yards away was a white wolf, the one I had seen at a distance on the previous two nights, and it was followed by a second wolf. The white wolf was the female, whilst the second was tan colour, and this was the male. The female slowly made her way towards the hides, seduced by the smell of the fresh meat of a carcass.

The next 15 minutes were spellbinding. She came to within only 20 metres of the hide … it was her size, her obvious power and that stare that left me breathless. I have never known a stare like it. I have been all over the world, photographing Polar Bears, Leopards and Tiger, but never has an animal looked at me with the same intensity or intelligence. This really was a once in a lifetime encounter and one that will stick with me for the rest of my days.
Picture
Grey Wolf
Picture
Grey Wolf
Picture
Grey Wolf
Picture
Grey Wolf
If you would like to join me in Finland, I will be leading another ‘Boreal Predators Photography’ tour with Wildlife Worldwide in June 2018. I can’t promise the tour will be the same as this year’s, but I can guarantee it will be a great adventure. 

For the entirety of this trip I was using a Canon 500mm F4 IS II USM lens which was kindly provided by Fixation. I will be writing a separate post with a review and my thoughts on using the lens if the field. 
3 Comments

Skomer's Perfect Puffins

15/6/2017

0 Comments

 
​Towards the beginning of June I was fortunate enough to lead a small group of photographers to the island of Skomer. This rocky outcrop, which sits just off the Marloes Peninsula, is one of the UK’s seabird strongholds and supports around 6,000 pairs of breeding Atlantic Puffins.
Puffin by Bret Charman
Puffin with sand eels
These charming little birds are what most visitors come to see on Skomer Island and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It has to be one of the UK’s finest wildlife experiences – quite simply it is hard not to smile when you see your first Puffin. Only about the size of a pint glass, these small birds are one of the world’s great ocean wanderers, their tenacity and dedication to their chicks is truly inspiring. They provide the perfect focus for this short photography break.

I spent 3 nights on Skomer, having only planned on staying for 2. It turns out that my clients (and me) were experiencing some of the worst low pressure systems for many a year, we were stranded on the high cliffs of the island for an extra 24 hours. Although it was a little inconvenient it provided further opportunities to enjoy the island’s varied birdlife including 300,000 pairs of Manx Shearwater (only possible to see in the dead of night), thousands of gulls (Greater and Lesser Black-backed as well as Herring), Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Short-eared owl and the list goes on.

I thought I should give you a little taster of what this exciting trip is all about, so here are some of my favourite images from the trip. ​
Puffin in wild flowers by Bret Charman
Atlantic Puffin emerging from its burrow - Bret Charman
Puffin with a beak full of sand eels - Bret Charman
Puffin in vegetation - Bret Charman
After arriving on the island around 1pm on the first day and then having a hearty lunch, we set out to photograph the Puffins at 'The Wick'. The Wick is famed for its large colony of Puffins, all along the top of a dramatic coastal inlet on the southern side of Skomer. As the afternoon went on the skies cleared and provided us with some spectacular light for photography (see below). 
Picture
Puffin at The Wick on Skomer Island - Bret Charman
Picture
The second day started quietly, as most of the Puffins had already left their cliff top burrows, they spend as much time as they can catching fish for the pufflings (yes that really is the name of the chicks). The light was already pretty bright, but the group managed to get a few images of a Raven and of course a few Puffins here and there. 

I was lucky enough to capture one image as a bird flew in across the water in the blustery conditions, capturing it all in a muddle in mid air. 
Raven on the cliffs of Skomer Island - Bret Charman
Picture
Puffin flying over the sea - Bret Charman
The afternoon proved to be another puffin bonanza, and many of the group tried their hand at bird in flight photography. This is known to be one of the hardest skills sets any wildlife photographer can learn, but photographing a bird this small in gusting winds is near impossible. However, a few of us got lucky and their persistence paid off.

But there were also opportunities to photograph an obliging Oystercatcher and the Rabbits were about as tame as you can get!
Picture
Skomer Rabbit by Bret Charman
Oystercatcher on a dry stone wall - Bret Charman
Puffin with a twig - Bret Charman
Puffin on Skomer with a twig - Bret Charman
Puffin in flight - Bret Charman
Having stayed on the island of Skomer for an extra evening, strong winds and poor visibility meant that no boats would be crossing over from the mainland. So after a morning of horrific weather, not even good for capturing images of Puffin in the rain, we headed out for one final time to add to our portfolios. For the most part, I kept my camera off, going around the group and making sure they were all getting what they wanted. 
Picture
Picture
So even with some of Britain's finest summer weather (by that I mean gale force winds and torrential rain), we managed to spend plenty of time with the 'clowns of the sea'. I hope to be hosting more Skomer photography trips in 2018, all in partnership with Wildlife Worldwide. 
0 Comments

2016 – A year to remember!

10/1/2017

3 Comments

 
Last year was one of great change for me … after spending a year photographing  in Australia, it was time to get crack on with my career and put photography on the back burner. Don’t worry - the photography will be back in force in 2017!
 
I had built up an incredible portfolio of images in 2015, thanks to my time ‘down under’, and I decided to try my luck in a few competitions. It turns out I had some success – who would have thought that would happen?
 
Well I was delighted to have images shortlisted in Outdoor Photographer of the Year, Bird Photographer of the Year and Australian Nature Photographer of the Year. The two images shortlisted in Bird Photographer of the Year both featured in the accompanying book and my image Murray Magic featured in the Kew Gardens exhibition.
 
When I got the news that three of my images had made it through to the final of Australian Nature Photographer of the Year, I was excited but didn’t really think too much of it. It wasn’t until a friend (the incredibly talented Trevor Scouten) alerted me to the fact that these three images were actually going to feature in the exhibition, and accompanying media, that it really hit home. In June I was contacted again by the competition, informing me I was either a winner or runner up in one of the categories I had entered. I learnt no more until the results were announced in the press – I found out through the Australian news that I was a winner of the ‘Threatened Species’ category with my image titled Palm Grove Dingo. The image has since been used in the accompanying book, wall calendar, desktop calendar and diary. The image was then used at the main entrance of the exhibition – printed in large format … this for me was the greatest honour.
Picture
Palm Grove Dingo - Winner of 'Threatened Species' category in Australian Nature Photographer of the Year
​It wasn’t all about the competitions though. I had a great year of travel once more with trips to India, Tobago and Colombia. None of which were necessarily exceptional from a photographic point of view but I did strike lucky on a few occasions (you can see a selection of images below).
Picture
Bengal tiger, India
Picture
Blue-crowned Motmot, Tobago
Picture
Weevil sp. Colombia
Picture
Pink River Dolphin, Colombia
2017 promises to be another great year for me with trips to Africa and Ecuador planned for my own photography. I will be leading two dedicated photography trips in June, one to Skomer Island in Wales for Puffins and the other to Finland to photograph Bears, Wolverines and Wolves. I will also be running one-to-one workshops a little closer to home focusing on Roe and Fallow Deer. If you have any interest in joining me on these trips I would love to hear from you – feel free to email me at any time.
 
I wish you all a very happy new year and I hope to see as many of you in 2017 as possible.
3 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Bret Charman

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    African Wild Dog
    Amazon
    Amboseli
    Amphibians
    Angola
    Ani
    Antelope
    Arctic
    Arctic Fox
    Arctic Skua
    Arctic Tern
    Asia
    Asian Elephant
    Asiatic Wild Dog
    Assam
    Atlantic
    Australia
    Australian Fur Seal
    Australian Sea Lion
    Auto-focus Failure
    Autumn
    Azur Hind Express
    Baboon
    Badger
    Baining
    Barn Owl
    Bar-tailed Godwit
    BBC Dynasties
    Beach
    Beachmere
    Beach Stone-curlew
    Bear
    Bearded Seal
    Bears
    Bee
    Big Cat
    Birds
    Black-eared Wheatear
    Black Guillemot
    Black Headed Gull
    Black-headed Gull
    Black Kite
    Black Swan
    Blakiston's Fish Owl
    Blue-faced Honeyeater
    Blue Mountains
    Blue Whale
    Boreal
    Bret Charman
    Brown Bear
    Brown Fish Owl
    Brown Hare
    Brown Rat
    Brunnich's Guillemot
    Brush-tailed Possum
    Buffalo
    Byron Bay
    Cairngorm
    Canoe Safari
    Canon 7d
    Canon Eos 5d Mkiii
    Capuchin
    Carnarvon Gorge
    Caves
    Cetaceans
    Chacalaca
    Chaffinch
    Cheetah
    Cheriton
    Chital
    Cockatoo
    Coffs Harbour
    Colombia
    Common Langur
    Common Lizard
    Cormorant
    CPS
    Crag Martin
    Crested Tern
    Crocodile
    Cuckoo
    Culture
    Damselfly
    Dance
    Danube Delta
    Dartford Warbler
    Deer
    Demoiselle
    Dhole
    Dinaric Mountains
    Dingo
    Dolphin
    Dorrigo NP
    Dorset
    Ducks
    Eagle
    Eastern Grey Kangaroo
    Ecuador
    Egyptian Vulture
    Eider Duck
    Elephant
    Emerald Beach
    Emu
    Estuary
    Eungella National Park
    Europe
    Fallow Deer
    Federal
    Finland
    Fire
    Firecrest
    Fish
    Flamingos
    Flowers
    Forest
    Fox
    Fox Cubs
    Fraser Island
    Frog
    Frogmouth
    Fuglesongen
    Fulmar
    Galah
    Gan Gan Lookout
    Garden
    Gecko
    Geese
    Gigrin Farm
    Giraffe
    Glacier
    Glaucous Gull
    Golden Jackal
    Golden Langur
    Golden Plover
    Gorillas
    Great Apes
    Greater Adjutant Stork
    Greenfinch
    Grey Phalarope
    Guillemot
    Guwahati
    Hampshire
    Harbour Seal
    Harp Seal
    Heather
    Heron
    Hindu Monk
    Hoatzin
    Hobby
    Hog Badger
    Hog Deer
    Hokkaido
    Hoolock Gibbon
    Hornbill
    Hover Fly
    Hyena
    India
    Insects
    Invertebrates
    Island
    Ivory Gull
    Jackal
    Japan
    Japanese Macaque
    Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
    Joey
    Kalandula
    Kamakhya Temple
    Kangaroo
    Kangaroo Island
    Kangaroo Valley
    Katoomba
    Kaziranga
    Kenya
    Kew Gardens
    Kilimanjaro
    King Eider
    Kingfishers
    Koala
    Kokopo
    Kolkata
    Kookaburra
    Lake Naivasha
    Landscapes
    Leopard
    Lighthouse
    Limestone Karst
    Lion
    Lion Cub
    Little Auk
    Little Tern
    London
    Long-tailed Skua
    Lorikeet
    Luambe National Park
    Maasai Mara
    Macro
    Magpie
    Mammals
    Mana Pools
    Marsupial
    Masked Lapwing
    Mishing People
    Monkey
    Monotremes
    Moreton Bay
    Mountain
    Mouse
    Murray River
    M/V Ortelius
    Nagarhole
    Nagpur
    Nameri
    Narooma
    Nature
    New Britain
    New Forest
    New South Wales
    New Zealand Fur Seal
    Nightingale
    Night Monkey
    Norway
    Ny Alesund
    Ny London
    One-horned Rhino
    One-horned Rhino
    Orang
    Orinoco
    Oropendola
    Osprey
    Otters
    Oystercatcher
    Pacific
    Pack Ice
    Painted Wolf
    Panoramic
    Papua New Guinea
    Parrots
    Peacock
    Peacock Island
    Pelican
    Pench National Park
    Pheasant
    Photography
    Pied Wagtail
    Platypus
    Plover
    Polar Bear
    Portrait
    Port Stephens
    Possum
    Predator
    Primates
    Puffin
    Purple Sandpiper
    Pygmy Marmoset
    Pyrenees
    Python
    Queensland
    Rainbow Lorikeet
    Rainforest
    Raven
    Razorbill
    Red-crowned Cranes
    Red Deer
    Red Fox
    Red Kangaroo
    Red Kite
    Red Squirrel
    Remarkable Rocks
    Repair
    Reptiles
    Rhesus Macaque
    Richmond Park
    Rift Valley
    River
    River Dolphin
    Robin
    Rodents
    Roe Deer
    Romania
    Sacha Lodge
    Safari
    Sambar
    Scotland
    Scottish Highlands
    Seabirds
    Seal
    Seal Rocks
    Shorebirds
    Short-beaked Echidna
    Short Eared Owl
    Short-eared Owl
    Skomer
    Slovenia
    Slow Worm
    Snow Monkey
    Sooty Oystercatcher
    South America
    South Australia
    South Downs National Park
    South Luangwa
    South Luangwa National Park
    Spitsbergen
    Spring
    Squirrel
    Squirrel Monkey
    Stag
    Steller's Sea Eagle
    Summer
    Svalbard
    Svalbard Reindeer
    Swans
    Tadoba Tiger Reserve
    Taiga
    Tamarin
    Tammar Wallaby
    The Highlands
    Tiger
    Toad
    Tobago
    Toorbul
    Topi
    Travel
    Tree Frog
    Tribe
    Tropics
    Uganda
    UK
    United Kingdom
    Ural Owl
    Urban Wildlife
    Urunga
    Victoria
    Waders
    Wagtail
    Wales
    Wallaby
    Walrus
    Water Buffalo
    Watercress
    Waterfall
    Water Vole
    Weasel
    Western Grey Kangaroo
    Whistling Kite
    White-faced Heron
    White Stork
    White-tailed Eagle
    Whitethroat
    Wild Boar
    Wild Dog
    Wild Eye
    Wild Flowers
    Wildlife
    Wildlife Worldwide
    Willie Wagtail
    Winter
    Wolf
    Wolverine
    Wombat
    Working Holiday
    Wren
    Yellowhammer
    Zambezi
    Zambia
    Zebra
    Zimbabwe


No portion of this website may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Bret Charman. All rights reserved.
​© Bret Charman Photography 2020
  • Home
  • Bret's Blog
  • Portfolio
  • Galleries
    • British Wildlife
    • Australia
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Rest of World
  • About Me
    • Partners
    • Awards
  • Workshops & Tours
  • Prints
  • Contact