approach

"We cannot solve the problems we have created with the same thinking that created them."
Albert Einstein.

Nature photography is a universal language. It’s a common currency that ignores political, social and cultural persuasions. It transcends academic qualification. It speaks to our emotions and acts as a catalyst for behavioural change. It’s science made sexy!

I cannot deny that spending time in remote places, engineering intimate encounters with charismatic wildlife and engaging with a kaleidoscope of different people and interest groups, is not an appealing aspect of my chosen work. That said, my real motivation is the power of visual imagery to fuel a shift in values. No other form of media can achieve this and in a rapidly changing world, communication – particularly between seemingly divergent interest groups – is a way of bridging divides, nurturing tolerance and resolving conflict.


Peter Cairns.

Peter Cairns has worked as a full-time freelance photographer since 2000. His images have received awards in a number of international competitions including the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the GDT European Photographer of the Year. Peter writes and illustrates regular columns for a number of photographic and countryside magazines. He was a founding partner in the widely-acclaimed Tooth & Claw predator project. He is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a founding director of both Wild Wonders of Europe and The Wild Media Foundation.