What spurred on your interest to follow this creative path?
For as long as I can recall, I have always been fascinated by the natural world. My dream was to travel the globe to see wild animals in their natural habitat. I started to travel 17 years ago and back then I used to take snapshots simply to document memories. Eventually, I became just as interested in the art of photography and the technical aspect itself.
What does your creative process look like?
The first thing is to decide on what subjects I want to photograph and then research the best places for opportunities to do so. I also meticulously study animal behaviour so that I can anticipate photo opportunities. Once in the field, it's then just persistence and patience! Animals do not show up on cue, follow a script or take directions. I have to look out, monitor and observe them for a long time to get photos of them at the right moment, in good light and a suitable setting.
How would you describe your style?
In my photos I aim to create a connection between the viewer and the wildlife. I usually favour vibrant colours, intense eye contact and an intimate setting. Whether it is a portrait, or a behaviour shot, I always seek to capture the essence of the beauty and personality of the animals and, as a result, I am always on the lookout for dramatic, emotive moments.
What keeps driving you forward on your creative journey?
Photography is a powerful conservation tool. Many of the animals I photograph are threatened with extinction, so I feel it is essential to make people connect with them, care about them and understand them better. Photography can call attention to the threats faced by wildlife and it is an effective way to give animals a 'voice' and presence in social media.
Do you have a favourite image?
It usually keeps changing! But at the moment my favourite one is of a pair of lions coupled with a rainbow behind them - it's not every day you find lions at the end of a rainbow!
What style of photograph do you enjoy taking the most?
I enjoy every moment I spend in the wilderness with the animals, but my favourite moments are those I spend with big cat cubs. Apart from the obvious cute factor, I enjoy watching them play, interact and learn. It's also fascinating to observe the dedication of the mothers in their daily struggle to keep their cubs safe and fed; cubs are very vulnerable and their lives are fraught with danger.
To date, what has been your greatest career highlight?
I photographed a Verreaux's Sifaka 'dancing' in Madagascar, which was highly commended in a competition. It was shared by many newspapers and media outlets, including National Geographic and CNN. On top of this, it was also published in a book! The image is a joyful and funny one, so I was glad I could put a smile on the faces of people all over the world.
What do you love most about your job?
I get to visit some of the planet's most iconic wilderness areas. There is nothing quite like spending days outdoors in nature, looking for - and following - the animals and not knowing what you are going to see next. Even though I have visited my favourite areas many times, I never fail to see new things and behaviour - it's always exciting!
What does 2020 have in store for you?
This year I will be spending some time in my favourite areas in East Africa to expand my big cat portfolio. I will also be planning and preparing for my first trip to Patagonia in 2021.
What would be your advice to anyone considering this career path?
Practice and more patience! In the world of wildlife photography, you often only have a split second to take that perfect photograph. It is therefore essential that you do an immense amount of practice and know your equipment well, so that you can react instantaneously when an opportunity presents itself. Photographing wild animals also takes patience: behind every good wildlife photo, there are usually weeks, months or even years of trial and failure - it is easy to forget this with so many wildlife images online.
Enjoy the process and the time spent with nature rather than focusing only on the end result. And, of course, always respect the animals and environment.
You can follow Alison's wildlife work on Instagram, with the handle @cheetah80.
