For The Animals

Posted by Zeke Kamm on 10/06/09 • Categorized as The Latest - Thoughts? Comment Below

Koala-Joey-NAP © Shannon Plummer I love animals and I love photography. But with rare exception, animal photography just doesn’t give me what I’m looking for. Well, not long ago I came across the breathtaking animal photography of Shannon Plummer. This is exceptional animal photography. It has that something that fine art portrait photography (my favorite kind of photography) has. It’s something that is difficult to quantify. Perhaps impossible. And Shannon Plummer has it in spades. Even better, she uses these powers for good, working with organizations like the Australian Koala Foundation to help save these incredible creatures.

Shannon was kind enough to let me interview her for my and your edification. Enjoy.

What inspires you to get out there and take photographs?

First and foremost – animals! They are my passion and that is closely followed by the natural world. I’ve always been creatively inclined and photography fulfills that need. Being able to combine that with my love of animals makes it even more rewarding.

When taking photographs of animals, what tips could you offer that would take what could be ordinary photographs and makes them extraordinary?

Ask yourself why you’re taking the photo. Allow yourself the time to really look at the image you have composed in the viewfinder rather than simply pressing the shutter in the direction of the animal for fear it will move. Working with animals takes patience and complete empathy for the animal. There is no use working with animals if you are going to project your frustrations on them. They can often be quite nervous or scared in the first place so you need to be calm and in complete control and always have the animals welfare the main priority above your own desire for results.

What is it about animal photography that draws you to it?

It comes back to my first answer – it’s all about the opportunity to work with and be around animals of all kind. Even when I’m not shooting I’m at my happiest when in the presence of an animal.

When you decide to start a series, what is your creative process like? Do you set goals, have a theme, a story or message you want to tell?

It varies but in the case of the Native Australian Portraits series the idea was planned before I started shooting. I had the opportunity to photograph the Australian Koala Foundation‘s CEO Deborah Tabart OAM (Order of Australia Medal) for a magazine and before I left I gave her my card. It had my ‘Elephant Mirror‘ photo on it and she was really impressed and suggested we collaborate on a series and that’s where the idea came from. Then it was a matter of shooting a variety of native Australian animals when the opportunity presented itself which took over two years.

Do you have a favorite type of animal to photograph? If so, which and why?

While it’s hard to choose just one type of animal I’d have to say reptiles. I have a deep-seeded passion for them and keep a variety of amazing Australian reptiles myself. While I keep mainly lizards my favorite to photograph is snakes. Every movement they make is beautiful and I’m continually inspired and fascinated by their colours and shapes, which translates so well in photos and usually the feistier the snake the better the resulting photos!

Can you tell us about the AKF?

The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is the principal non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the conservation and effective management of the wild koala and its habitat.

Australian Koala Foundation was formed in 1986 and celebrates over 20 years of operation under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Deborah Tabart OAM. During this time, the Foundation has grown from a small group of people interested in researching koala disease, to a well-known, global organization with a strong track record in strategic koala research, conservation and community education.

The goal of my Native Australian Portraits series is to help raise much needed funds and awareness for AKF. Half of all profits from sales of the series go to AKF who have funded approximately $7.5 million on koala reseach through universities, institutions and in-house research including the Koala Habitat Atlas, conservation projects and restoration work.

It a sad fact that Australia’s national icon is in decline with habitat loss being the greatest threat facing koalas today. In 2008 they estimate there are less than 100,000 koala’s left. Embarrassingly, Australia has one of the highest land clearing rates in the world and although koalas themselves are protected by law, around 80% of any remaining habitat occurs on privately owned land and almost none of that is protected by legislation.