Shetland key inspiration for wildlife photographer’s latest book

Norfolk based wildlife photographer David Tipling has released a new book which features a large quantity of pictures taken around Shetland.

Mr Tipling was at The Shetland Times Bookshop on Saturday to sign copies of Seabirds of the World: Secret Realm of the Ocean’s Wanderers on the first day of a two week trip which will see him once again photographing birds around the isles.

With a great number of interesting birds to photograph it is little wonder that Mr Tipling has taken to Shetland, which he says he has visited “nearly every year since 1984”.

In fact, for the photographer Shetland has become one of his favourite places to visit and work.

“I think Hermaness in Unst is my favourite place to photograph in Britain.” He said.

Mr Tipling added: “It’s so wild and the cliff imagery is spectacular. It is a stunning backdrop to photograph birds against.”

The author’s love of wild places and spectacular scenery has seen him visit a glut of the most fascinating locations on earth, including the Galapagos Islands and secluded South Georgia Islands.

The latter, he says, was one of his biggest challenges and proudest achievements. It was a time consuming and ultimately rewarding journey which saw him join a team of biologists for months of work as they performed a census on the local Wandering Albatross population.

For the globe-trotting photographer these months of work are a mere dot on the timeline of his time producing his newest publication, which he describes as “the culmination of between 10 and 20 years of work”.

Seabird photography is, for Mr Tipling, about more than just capturing the birds on film. He says that he attempts, through his photographs, “to make the images as striking as possible and to try to take pictures that present the quirkiness of the birds.”

Mr Tipling’s dedication to his craft is undeniable, and the old adage he quotes “the harder you try, the luckier you get” rings true in his inspiring images.

• Seabirds of the World by David Tipling is published by Reed New Holland at £16.99, hardback, and available from The Shetland Times Bookshop, Lerwick. Signed copies available for Early Birds.

• For more see The Shetland Times this Friday.