Craig Jones talks wildlife-mimicking dogs and escaping incoming tides
How did you get into photographing wildlife in the first place?
My love of wildlife started from a young age – learning about nature was instilled into me by my late mother. I used to draw what I saw as she couldn’t afford a camera.
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
Something outdoors, with nature as my constant companion.
Have you ever had any close calls while on a shoot?
I was photographing grey seals in the UK and I didn’t realise the tide was coming in fast behind me. It nearly cut me off, but I was able to extract myself just in time.
What’s your worse investment of time on a shoot?
On a shoot in Madagascar, my companions and I received a tip-off that a fossa – arelative of the mongoose – was visiting a nearby village. We built a makeshift hide and spent almost two days inside it before a stray dog turned up that the locals had mistaken for a fossa.
What was your toughest shoot to date?
Trekking through the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, looking for Sumatran orangutans. Everything there wants to eat you and the humidity is unbelievable.
Has anything attempted to eat you?
I was confronted by a massive male Bengal tiger in Ranthambhore National Park, India. Thankfully my quick-thinking guide helped us avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
What’s the most useless piece of kit you’ve ever bought?
A GPS device that needs Wi-Fi to work. It didn’t occur to me at the time that most places I visit for photography are very remote and won’t actually have WiFi.
What’s your one piece of advice to budding wildlife photographers?
When you enter the theatre of nature, always work with respect and adhere to a code of ethics for your subjects. Think you are a visitor – and act accordingly.
You can see Craig’s work by visiting craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk
How to make your photograph stand out from the crowd
The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOY) contest is the most prestigious of its kind. Chair of the jury, Roz Kidman Cox reveals what makes an entry catch the eye.
WHAT THE JUDGES ARE SEARCHING FOR
“Originality. Fresh ways of looking at familiar subjects as much as new ones or surprising situations.”
KEY DO’S AND DON’T
“Don’t select your entries in a rush. Review your selection afresh several times and get a second opinion.”
WELL-TRODDEN TOPICS
“Are you familiar enough with what has already featured in the competition to see your image as special enough to be better?”
To read more of Roz’s tips, visit discoverwildlife.com/win-wildphoto. Plus, find out how you can see the 2022 exhibition and view incredible WPOY galleries.