1 of 9 Back to nature Nature shooter Michael Snedic reveals a world of hidden wonders in our midst with his fabulous wildlife photography.
2 of 9 When I was a little kid, wildlife and the environment was my absolute love and passion, says nature and wildlife photographer Michael Snedic. It was about getting out, bird watching, bushwalking, going to the zoo, watching David Attenborough documentaries, getting out in nature and really loving it. It should come as no surprise then that before Snedic took up shooting wildlife he was out amongst it, working at a nature reserve. My first job was at O Reilly s Rainforest Retreat. That was the place
3 of 9 where I also first picked up a camera. Not professionally but mainly because I wanted to show friends and family some of the amazing things I was seeing, Snedic explains. With subjects as diverse as colourful fungi, exotic birds and fabulous fauna, it wasn t too long before Snedic came to the realisation he needed some extra money to support his photographic habit. He decided to try his luck at selling a few of his photos. Nineteen years later, Snedic is one of the most sought-after, prolific and awarded wildlife and nature photographers in Australia. I absolutely love it. Everyday I get up and its something different, he says. Hearing him tell it, his success story sounds simple but Snedic s journey to renowned photographer took some hard work. He reveals his early years were spent under the tutelage of former BBC shooter, Glen Threlfo. I had a wonderful mentor, and he was a renowned documentary maker and photographer. He gave me my start. I did all the hard work. I lugged all the gear. I built the hides and the towers in all kinds of conditions. So I did the hard yards you could say. But I learned from a master.
4 of 9 Snedic says the most valuable lesson he learned in all his time with Glen was patience. Never give up. Keep going and you ll get the shot. And learn your camera inside and out. Know it well. It makes it so much easier when you re out photographing. If you know your camera and are patient, the rewards can be incredible. For Snedic one such reward came early in his career when he became one of only four people in the world to ever capture the lyrebird in full display. Snedic says the key to getting the money shot involved a mix of the happy accident and a tremendous amount of preparation.
5 of 9 What time does the sun come up? What s the terrain like? What is your subject s pattern of behaviour? Do your prep. The more prep you do the more chance you have of getting the shot. Asked to name his most challenging shoot, Snedic describes an expedition to the Gold Coast hinterland where he captured the aforementioned lyrebird. I was trying to photograph the Albert s lyrebird. These birds are only found in a 100-kilometre radius of Lamington National Park and only three people in the world have ever photographed it. BBC Wildlife came out one year to try to photograph it and came back empty handed. I sat for two days short of seven weeks in a bird hide, sitting on top of an upturned milk crate in the middle of winter. I d have to say SCROLL FOR MORE
6 of 9 that was one of the most challenging, shoots, but when it worked, the elation at the end was very special. Thirteen years later Snedic repeated the effort and became the only person to ever photograph the shy bird twice. Despite oftentimes challenging conditions, Snedic says he wouldn t swap his job for another: There s nothing like it. There s just the joy of being out amongst nature. That moment when it s all coming together and you see a giant bird of prey swooping for you and your heart is pounding, the hairs on the back of your neck are standing up and your mouth goes dry and you click the shutter and it all comes together and you hope you get the shot. His advice to anyone wanting to take up a career in nature photography is to do their research on all counts. First do your research on your gear. Get the camera that suits you. Find out what works for the price range that you can afford. Then go out and photograph. Pick a subject that you really love and spend time. The more time you spend, the more chance you have of getting a great shot. For Snedic a great photograph lies in capturing a unique moment. It s one where you might see something different. That split second moment where you capture something from behind your lens and people go
7 of 9 wow. All the technical side has to work but you need to find something a bit different and unique to make your photo stand out. He says one of the wonderful factors of the digital revolution is that you have instant feedback on your image. Back in the film days you couldn t do that. It s so much easier now. The technology is getting better. The ISO capabilities are improving it s getting cheaper yet not limiting the quality. Photography is just booming. Nature photography in particular is also thriving and Snedic attributes this newfound wonder with the great outdoors to our faced-paced lifestyles. I think people just love getting away from it and photographing nature. It s a way of people experiencing a simpler time, he says. He also suggests anyone getting serious about photography would benefit from attending a workshop. A lot of people struggle reading those 200-page How to books there s nothing quite like getting out there amongst it with a professional with your camera and you can ask questions and learn more about how to use your camera and what makes a great image. As someone who makes their living photographing the wonders of nature, Snedic is all too aware of the threat
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9 of 9 of extinction faced by many of the world s most loved animals. As such he s not above lending his name to further the cause of endangered species. I really want to help promote and encourage people to preserve and protect our wildlife and ecosystems. He says what he loves most about his job is every day is different. I never have Monday-itis. I m not in an office, I m not in the system and I get to see amazing places and experience amazing things. If I m doing a shoot or running a workshop Seeing the smile on people s faces when they get a shot. Without being clichéd, I m really passionate about it. And now my long hours and years of hard work have paid off. Learn about his workshops at trekaboutphotography.com See more of Snedic s work at michaelsnedic.com