From Animals to Fashion – An Interview with Photographer Nicky Jenner

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Jul 23rd, 2008 | By andrew | Category: Interviews

From Animals to Fashion - An Interview with Photographer Nicky Jenner

Photo of Red Dao, Vietnam by Nicky Jenner

Red Dao, Vietnam

Nicky Jenner, the 2005 winner of the ‘Natural World’ category in the Travel Photographer of the Year competition, is not only an accomplished wildlife photographer but has since branched out into fashion photography with an assignment for Bellaju.

Intrigued, I asked her some questions about her photography career, the Travel Photographer of the Year competition and her future plans.

As a zoologist, you’re obviously driven by your knowledge and love of the natural world. At what point did you start taking photos and when did you realise that your photography was strong enough in it’s own right to be used professionally?

I started taking photos when I was very young and have always enjoyed it, particularly when, about nine years ago, I began working on research and conservation projects in Africa and had the privilege to spend time in some beautiful wilderness areas and observe spectacular wildlife.

But it’s only been in the last four or five years, whilst conducting research on black-backed jackal ecology in Namibia for my PhD, that my photography has really developed. Winning a prize in the TPOTY competition, with images taken in Namibia, was a pivotal time for me and through this I gained confidence that my photography was strong enough to be used professionally.

I see a definite ‘fine art’ style to some of your work. You have some beautiful black and white studies. How would you describe your photographic vision? What kind of look/atmosphere/feel do you try and create in your photos?

My style and approach to photography is always evolving according to the subject and nature of my work and in response to the people and places that influence and inspire me. Having studied fine art at school I used to do a lot of sketching, but gradually photography has taken over from this and I guess it’s a natural part of this transition that an element of fine art has filtered into my photography.

I’m fascinated with natural light and when photographing wildlife and their environment I try to combine this with an intimate understanding of a species’ behaviour and ecology to create images which convey the character of a species and the beauty of the landscape it inhabits.

Name three photographers you like and why. Who inspires you?

I really admire Bence Máté, who has produced some stunning and unusual wildlife photography.

I also have a lot of respect for Martin Hartley’s work which portrays some of the world’s most remote landscapes and communities.

In fashion photography I like the still life work of Kristin Perers.

You were the winner of the ‘Natural World’ category in the Travel Photographer of the Year Competition 2005. How did this affect your career? What doors did it open for you?

More than anything winning the category gave me a confidence in my photography that I’d previously lacked and this has been invaluable in moving forward in my career. When I won this category I was fairly new to the travel photography arena and the support and encouragement that I received in developing my photography from the founder of TPOTY, Chris Coe, made TPOTY much more than just a competition.

It was also fantastic for exposure through TPOTY events, exhibitions, the books Journey One and Two, and the photographers’ showcase on the TPOTY website.

What advice would you give someone entering the Travel Photographer of the Year Competition? What does it take to succeed?

Be critical - images need to be technically spot on to pass the initial selection process and however good the subject or composition of the image it will not get through if there are shortfalls in technical quality.

Ask for feedback on your portfolios from other people before you submit them to the competition.

Read the guidelines and advice given on the TPOTY website.

For a portfolio entry the images need to have individual impact but most importantly they must work together as a portfolio.

How has your photography developed over the last few years? I see that you’ve been shooting fashion photography. How did you get involved in this and what prompted you to try this new branch of photography, a radical change from your nature and wildlife work?

Until 2005 my photography had focused primarily on wildlife owing to my work and the amount of time I was spending in Namibia. Since then, however, I’ve expanded more broadly into travel photography and have developed a real passion for photographing people.

I got involved in shooting fashion through friends of mine that run the silk clothing company Bellaju. It has been a wonderful learning experience for me and something I plan to continue with and develop.

Although it might seem a radical change from what I was doing before, I’ve found that my experience in photographing the natural world and my fascination with using natural light to highlight textures, detail or to convey emotion, has provided me with a great, if unconventional, platform from which to develop my work in fashion.

Tell us a little about your involvement with the Cycle of Life expedition team. What’s your role within the project and how did you become involved?

The Cycle of Life is an intrepid cycling expedition raising money and awareness of community-based conservation projects across Africa, something I am passionate about and I had hoped at one stage to join the team in cycling the gruelling 5,000 miles from Namibia to Kenya this year.

Unfortunately I was unable to join them so I’ve had a peripheral support role really, advising on some of the logistics, offering support where I can and doing some of the photography for their website prior to the trip.

In 2006 you travelled along the Amazon from Iquitos in Peru to Manaus in Brazil. What was the journey like and how did the experience affect you on a professional and personal level?

This was an amazing opportunity for me, both as a photographer and zoologist, and a complete contrast to the desert environment in which I’d spent so much time. The lush flooded forest landscape, river ecosystem, and the diversity of species were simply incredible.

This trip also presented its share of challenges and I rapidly learnt that taking images in low light from a small boat full of people who couldn’t sit still for very long was definitely a no go! Instead I opted for binoculars rather than a telephoto lens and just sat back and enjoyed it. At other times I focussed more on macro work photographing a diverse array of small creatures from moths, snail eggs and piranha to tree frogs and tarantulas.

This was also where I first began photographing people as we had the opportunity to visit some of the communities living on the edge of small tributaries in Peru and Brazil.

What are the three most important qualities that a photographer needs to succeed? What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer at the start of their career?

I think having patience, determination, and the confidence and ability to effectively market your work are all important characteristics for a photographer.

As for advice in starting out - I’d suggest putting together a website as it’s a great way to present your work. Also when approaching editors or potential clients it’s really important to do your research - if pitching to a magazine or other publication make sure you know the layout of the publication and where your images might fit in, comply with all submission guidelines and make sure you present your material to the highest possible standard.

Where is your photography going? What future photographic project or projects are you excited about?

I’m heading to Central America for 6 weeks from the end of July and will be travelling from Costa Rica to Mexico, so right now I’m looking forward to exploring and photographing a part of the world that I’ve never been to before.

Contact

Email: nicky [at] jenner-photography [dot] co.uk

Websites:

www.jenner-photography.co.uk

www.bellaju.com

Photo Gallery

Photo of Hanoi, Vietnam by Nicky Jenner