Behind the Lens with Gareth Price

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm 53 and was born and still live in Shoreham. I run my own business, carrying out repairs to catering equipment in local pubs and restaurants. Working for myself all over Sussex allows me to visit many nature sites between jobs.

When and why did you develop an interest in wildlife photography?

I've always enjoyed nature and often walking with my wife, who enjoys bird watching. I started trying to photograph birds to help her identify the ones we had seen. I found I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture a good shot and got a real buzz when one came out well.

Do you have a particular subject matter you favour, and why?

Definitely birds, I enjoy the challenge and I find myself always wanting to get a better shot. I also love to try and capture a shot of any wildlife I see, like Water Voles, Field Mice etc, and I hope to one day get a nice shot of Adders.

What are the biggest challenges?

The weather can be a problem and some birds in particular like Goldcrests and Tree Creepers etc do not often stay still for a second and are very fast moving. I can sometimes take about 50 shots of a Goldcrest to get one worth keeping!

What equipment do you use, in brief?

I started with a point and shoot bridge camera (Canon HS70) which gave fantastic results and I often still use it now for ease of use. I upgraded to a Canon EOS-R as my enthusiasm and enjoyment grew.

What’s your favourite shot?

I think my favourite shot is of the Wheatear. They are migratory birds and only pass through our area for a very short period of time, so you have to catch them as they land, stop to feed and build their strength back up. It took many unsuccessful visits to Shoreham beach, in late March this year, before finally sighting them. I wasn’t able to get as near to them as I would have liked, so the shots were not the sharpest, but they are a beautiful bird and I was delighted to see them.

What are you trying to communicate with your photographs?

I was amazed at the variety of birds we get here in the UK and love to share as many different species as I can.

I hope by sharing them it might encourage people to get out into nature themselves and get the enjoyment nature has to offer. I always tag the location of the photo so that others maybe able to visit.

Have you ever had any surprises when you’ve been out with a camera?

I think my biggest surprise was when some deer wandered by just a few feet away from me. They are such beautiful animals. I had no idea when I started just how much incredibly beautiful countryside and spectacular views we had on our doorstep in Sussex. There is a great variety of wildlife to be seen, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians, foxes, rodents, birds etc as well as lots of wild flowers.

Follow Gareth on Instagram @bird_photography_wildlife