7 YEARS OF CAMERA SHAKE - DAVID PLUMMER
- Isabel Lewis - New Nature December 2017
- Mar 19, 2018
- 4 min read
Back in September I was lucky enough to meet wildlife photographer David Plummer and attend the launch for his new book ‘7 Years of Camera Shake’. The book is a beautiful collection of David’s work, showcasing a variety of stunning shots from both his travels around the world and from his home patch in Sussex. Seven years prior to producing his book, David was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and it has been during these years that followed that David has produced some of his best work yet, from which the book is compiled.
Right from his early childhood David was fixated with wildlife, though at that age saving up for a long-focus camera lens with just his pocket money proved difficult. By the time he was in his early twenties David was setting off with budget camera equipment and homemade hides to begin his journey of becoming the photographic artist that he is today. Starting out in his immediate surroundings of Kent and Sussex, flora proved to be a more accommodating subject for David to learn the ropes; less likely to fly or scamper away. It was from there that David began to get to grips with his craft and quickly moved on to photographing wild animals. David has always made a point of only photographing animals in the wild and his aversion to taking shots of caged animals is stated from the get go in his book. Photographing wildlife is perhaps considered as the most difficult form of photography and one that is constantly evolving. However not to dishearten any budding naturalists just starting out with a camera, today equipment is far more efficient and accessible than it was when David began. Although he does attribute his necessary resourcefulness and persistence to his limited gear at the beginning of his career.
David’s career has taken him all over the globe from the African Plains, to the Galapagos Islands and Hungarian wetlands to name a few. ‘7 Years of Camera Shake’ captures wildlife from many different habitats, such as these but there is also a large focus on British wildlife. In fact, David devotes a whole chapter ‘Home Ground’ to images from his local patch of Sussex among the other British wildlife photos featured throughout the book. Growing up in the South East of England David’s passion for nature started at home and his deep appreciation for the local wildlife becomes very apparent when reading the book.
David has accumulated quite a repertoire of animals in his photographic collection over the years, capturing many exotic and magnificent creatures. Yet, he gets just as much excitement when hiding out with a camera in the British countryside in wait of the many remarkable animals that roam there. He has expressed he would be a happy man if he could only immerse himself in British nature for the rest of his life and when viewing his book, you can tell why.
What becomes increasingly clear as one makes their way through ‘7 Years of Camera Shake’ is the immense determination and patience that David has needed to achieve the chosen shots. Many feature rarely sighted animals such as coyotes, badgers and owls and it is that elusive quality that first attracted David to seeking them out. In fact owls are featured heavily in the book and are dear to David’s heart. His ‘Home Ground’ chapter captures multiple native species, from tawny owls (Strix aluco) to short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) and barn owls (Tito alba). Through his work at the Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex, David has been able to spend time observing and photographing the charismatic little owl (Athene noctua), capturing action shots as well as their social interactions. The estate is a perfect example of a rewilding project whereby the wildlife is given freedom to establish its own ecosystem, something that David strives to achieve in his own back garden and private patch of ancient woodland that he purchased back in 2005.
David spoke with dry wit at the book launch, telling amusing anecdotes from his varied career, like awkward encounters with ramblers when hiding in full camouflage in the nearby bushes, also he touched on his diagnosis and work with Parkinson’s UK. 50% of the proceeds of the book go to the charity, to help people with Parkinson’s and to aid research into a cure.
David’s work, as much as it provides us with insight in to the many aspects of wildlife from affection and play to brutal hunting and fighting, is much more than just recording nature. They say never judge a book by its cover, though it is clear from the stunning monochrome shot of a jaguar on the front of ‘7 Years of Camera Shake’ that David has put together a collection of evoking wildlife art and not mere documentations. The book provides understanding of David’s processes and development as well as the stunning photos that make one envious of his craft and experience rich career.
This article was first published in New Nature Magazine - Demember 2017 issue.
For more info on David's find his website by clicking here
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