Bridge To Nature

The runners-up in our recent nature photo competition to win a Sony RX10 Mark III discuss their work and the benefits of using a bridge camera

In AP 17 June we asked readers to submit their best nature and wildlife images for a chance to win a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 Mark III. Five shortlisted photographers were asked to take their best nature and wildlife shots with the RX10 Mark III, and the overall victor got to keep the camera. Molly Hollman’s images were selected as the best, winning her the camera (see AP 30 September), but it was a close-run thing so we thought we would feature the four runners-up. Read on to see how they made the most of the RX10 Mark III’s many strengths.

Michelle Howell

When it came to images for the competition, Michelle says: ‘I was due to go sailing around Menorca so I wanted to try to capture images of the tiny black lizard that is found only on Isla Del Aire. The only way to get to the island is by boat, and once anchored off the island I had to swim to shore!’

It was worth the effort. Michelle decided to take a wide-angle image, incorporating the path up to a lighthouse and with a lizard looking into the lens. ‘I didn’t have a remote release for the Sony, but I knew that the lizards had no fear of humans.’

On her return to the UK, Michelle also visited an owl sanctuary and the local wildlife park for some more shots. She was particularly taken with the RX10 Mark III’s lens and its ‘amazing’ focal length. ‘It means you don’t have to get too close to the wildlife and the wide aperture gives a fabulous depth of field – great for blurred backgrounds and fast shutter speeds,’ she explains. ‘The macro facility at the end of the zoom was also fabulous.’

Michelle’s tips for nature competition success are to research your location and the behaviour of the animals, and to aim for simple backgrounds. ‘Also, think outside the box: try to make images different from the norm, and be patient and flexible.’