Michael Wilkins
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Photography

Fine-Art Wildlife Photography

Long-lens encounters — lions through thornbush, giraffes in the rain. Shot at Pumba Game Reserve and wherever the animals are.

Most of these come from Pumba Game Reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape: its white lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, rhino and zebra. A handful are from Iceland — horses in snow, and a blue-morph arctic fox in the Westfjords. A lot of it is black and white, and much of the colour work is shot very dark or very light.

  1. A male white lion with pale blue eyes stares straight at the camera through a gap in out-of-focus thornbush.

    White Lion, Watching

  2. A cheetah bares its teeth in a snarl, ears pinned back, eyes fixed directly on the camera.

    The Warning

  3. High-key black-and-white profile portrait of a white Icelandic horse against a pure white background, only its dark eye, ear and nostrils holding the frame.

    The White Horse

  4. A zebra stands against a black background with its head turned back over its shoulder, stripes dissolving into shadow.

    Zebra, Undone

  5. A giraffe stands on a wet dirt track in falling rain with its tongue out, a second giraffe feeding in the bush at right.

    Giraffe in the Rain

  6. Close portrait of a cheetah with rain-spiked fur and amber eyes, tear lines running dark down its face.

    Cheetah in the Rain

  7. Black-and-white photograph of a male lion walking head-on through long flowering grass, mane blown to one side.

    He Walks

  8. A nyala bull in profile emerges from a black background, spiral horns and white face markings catching thin light.

    Nyala from the Dark

  9. A white lion walks in profile through green forest, framed by dark branches, mouth open mid-pant.

    Through the Forest

  10. Four hippo heads break the surface of water blown out to pure white, one with its pink mouth wide open.

    Four Hippos, White Water

  11. A male lion rests his head on the ground in short grass, one eye half open, mane spilling forward over his ear.

    Lion at Rest

  12. An elephant seen close from behind, wrinkled hide and ear filling the left of the frame, one curved tusk showing against desaturated thornbush.

    Ear and Ivory

  13. Two impala rams face each other on a grassy ridgeline beneath a deep blue summer sky.

    The Standoff

  14. Black-and-white profile of a white lion sitting in tall flowering grass, facing right, mane thick around his neck.

    Profile in Grey

  15. Two giraffes stand above a green bushline against a blue sky, one in profile and one facing the camera.

    Two Necks

  16. A white lioness stands on a wet, puddled dirt road and looks back over her shoulder, mud dark on her chin.

    She Looks Back

  17. A bird of prey crosses a blown-out white sky, small in the frame, dark wings spread mid-beat.

    Small Dark Wings

  18. A male lion walks across open grassland toward the camera, mid-stride, gaze angled just past the lens.

    Coming Through

  19. A white rhino stands in profile on green grass with oxpeckers perched on its ear and shoulder.

    Rhino with Passengers

  20. A young white lion crouches low in long grass with its tail curled up, face and rounded ears just clear of the stems.

    Low in the Grass

  21. An Icelandic horse's head emerges from black shadow, chestnut strands of mane catching a thin band of light, eyes soft.

    Horse in the Dark

  22. A male lion stands broadside in full profile facing right, heavy mane against a muted backdrop, chin darkened and stained.

    Standing Broadside

  23. A black cormorant flies across a pure white sky, wings raised in a high vee, pale cheek and hooked bill visible.

    Shag on White

  24. A white lion lies on dark ground beneath trees at dusk, front legs stretched forward, pale blue eyes catching the last light.

    Blue Eyes at Dusk

  25. An Icelandic horse's face hidden behind a long tangled chestnut forelock, one dark eye just visible through the hair, against black.

    Under the Mane

  26. Black and white photograph of a zebra in profile against a black background, its mane standing upright in a stiff brush, stripes running in hard bands down its neck and shoulder.

    Stripes, Side On

  27. Black and white close photograph of a white rhino's head in profile, deeply creased hide catching the light, both horns visible against a near-black background.

    Armour

  28. Black and white photograph of a white lion lying in dense scrub, staring directly at the camera through a screen of branches and leaves that break up the frame.

    Through the Thicket

  29. Photograph of a dark-furred arctic fox sitting in deep snow, facing the camera, its near-black winter coat contrasting against a pale white background.

    The Blue Morph

  30. Black and white photograph of a male impala standing alert in long grass, head turned toward the camera, its curved lyre-shaped horns rising against a soft grey background.

    Lyre Horns

  31. Black and white photograph of a white lion lying in low scrub, shown in profile with its eyes half closed, pale mane bright against the darker surrounding bush.

    Resting Light

  32. Close photograph of a cheetah walking directly toward the camera, head filling the frame, amber eyes fixed forward with the dark tear-lines running down its face.

    Straight Down the Barrel

  33. Close photograph of a male lion resting in grass, facing the camera, his face and muzzle marked with old scars and his heavy dark-edged mane framing the head.

    The Ledger

  34. Photograph of a male greater kudu standing in profile in dry scrub, head raised, its long corkscrew horns rising in a double twist above thin white stripes on its flank.

    The Spiral

  35. Black and white photograph of an elephant seen from close behind and to the side, deeply wrinkled hide filling the left of the frame, one tusk and the edge of an ear visible against pale sky and scrub.

    Hide and Tusk

  36. High-key black and white photograph of a grey Icelandic horse in snow, shown from the shoulder up in three-quarter profile with its long pale mane blown forward across its face by the wind.

    Windward

  37. Close photograph of a cheetah hissing directly at the camera, mouth wide open showing canines and the dark roof of its mouth, whiskers flared and eyes narrowed.

    Warning

  38. A young tiger lying on a pale stone ledge with its front paws crossed, looking directly at the camera, its striped flank filling the lower half of the frame.

    Paws Crossed

Wildlife available as fine art prints

Giclée on Hahnemühle Photo Rag, made to order, worldwide shipping included. All prints

Prices in pounds sterling.