Chris Packham photographic exhibition

Known to over 4 million viewers across the UK as the new presenter of BBC’s ‘Springwatch,’ Chris Packham is recognised internationally as one of the world’s most inventive wildlife photographers.

A collection of his pictures is on display and for sale at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, near Ringwood until 28 August.

Chris officially opened the exhibition at the country park yesterday, (22 July), and started by congratulating the park on its Green Flag award.  He then surprised his audience by saying, “I don’t like photography.  It is a disappointing and frustrating exercise.”  Everyone was agog, having admired his stunning shots in the exhibition, but he went on to qualify the statement by adding, “But I yearn to do it all the time.  Trying to take new pictures of wildlife is immensely difficult, which is what I like to do.”

He explained that he plans his photographs and imagines his shots before he takes them. He thought of the elephant photograph one March, but it wasn’t until the following January that he took the picture.  He plans his photographs meticulously and uses props to attract the wildlife to the right spot.

He confessed that he is also viciously self critical of his work saying,  “My ambition is to continually get closer to that perfect picture. I photograph animals because I like them more than I like people.”

Read the mags4dorset interview with Chris Packham in the next issue of Viewpoint Magazine.