Creative Nature and Outdoor Wildlife Photography by Scott Tilley

Scott Tilley is a natural history and landscape photographer based in Nottinghamshire, UK. He have been using Canon Digital Cameras exclusively for six years,  starting out with a Canon 10D and now using a Canon 50D with associated Canon and Sigma lenses.  His works have been published in a number of books and magazines, and his images are sold through different stock photography libraries, such as Alamy and Photographers Direct.

Scott accepted our request for an interview and he will reveal important details about his style among important nature photography tips and tricks.

Tell us about something about Scott Tilley Photography?

No problem,  I've been taking digital wildlife images for about seven years. Over that time I have continually upgraded my equipment and now shoot most of my images with a Canon 50D and associated lenses. My images are now sold by a number of photographic agencies and I have recently started to write articles to accompany my images. Although I have an interest in wildlife generally I am passionate about the wildlife in my local area, something that is often overlooked by photographers. British mammals are a particular favorite of mine and I hope eventually to get the full set, including bats! I also enjoy the world of the “minibeast” and try to convey this alien world with a macro lens.

What's your creative process like?

My work is often driven by the demands of the stock libraries I shoot for,  however, this can be quite specialized so I always make time to get out in my local area and just shoot whatever comes along. I find that I am most creative early in the morning, often getting to a favorite site before the sun rises. This is also a great time to bump into the local wildlife, and for me is good for the soul, you certainly feel like you have the world to yourself before the first dog walker has even got out of bed.

Where do you find inspiration and why you like photography?

For me the image can be the end of a long process. I have in the past gone to special deer parks to take images of deer and have left totally unfulfilled. The deer here are photographed daily and are always in the same place, if you get the right light you are almost guaranteed to come away with the image. I guess the inspiration for me lies in the whole process, the research (learning about the animal, its habitat, the best time of year to see it, the field signs it leaves). Then the actual hunt (this often involves a lot of crawling!) And finally taking the image. I have had deer and hares pass within feet of me totally unaware I was there, these are the special moments that really do make the before dawn starts worthwhile.

What are some tips you could give to people that really like your work?

The biggest tips I would give to anyone are firstly to research the animal you are hoping to take images of. Without this knowledge you may eventually get the images you want but you will be relying on a huge slice of luck. Why make it difficult for yourself, be a naturalist first and a photographer second. This will also give you an appreciation of the animals themselves and I will always put the animals welfare before the capture of any image. I would also urge all budding wildlife photographers to spend most of their time within a ten mile radius of their homes. Often people believe that they have to travel somewhere to get wildlife images but this is just not the case. For macro images you may not have to go any further than your garden. In my local patch I know of a group of six roe deer, and if I see them in one field on Monday I know that on Tuesday they have a 90% chance of being in the dense reed bed area in the abandoned quarry.

If you have something else to add (a video/about your next project/etc.) just tell us.

My website is constantly developing and I try to include any information that I may have found useful on the site. I also review new equipment I buy which can be useful if you are considering getting the same thing. I have recently gained a “highly commended” for one of my images in the International Garden Photographer of the Year, and I hope to have further success in more internationally renowned competitions in the months to come.

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Mr. Scott Tiley we would like to thank you for helping us to put everything together.  Good luck with your shots and with the sales. Don't hesitate to contact us when you will launch your first book.