I'm Pauline Rose Sharp, a proud graduate Michigan State university where I studied Wildlife Management, and Brooks Institute of Photography in California, which prepared me for my career in film, photography, and publishing. Thanks in part to my father's involvement in trading gemstones and gold bars, I've also ventured into business.

I was born in Ireland and moved with my parents to Lansing Michigan in 1993. Today, I call Lansing ,home. My publishing journey began in 2014, and since then, I've had the incredible opportunity to travel extensively around the world, showcasing my skills as a nature and wildlife photographer.

My images are widely published and represented by some of the leading picture agencies in the country, such as Nature PL and RSPB Images. Over the years, I've been fortunate to win several awards for my photography, which you can see in the awards section. My work has been featured in prominent wildlife photography events like Wild Wonders of Europe and 2020 Vision. I also co-run a successful photography tour business called Natures Images with Mark Sisson, specializing in overseas tours. Together, we've built it into one of the leading photo tour companies.

Why nature photography?

I have always been interested in Nature and the Outdoors from a young age and Wildlife Photography seemed a perfect path to follow to enjoy both. I like the fact I can be in remote locations or see something rare or unusual and have my camera at hand to record it and share it.

What’s best about it?

Without doubt being out in the field and just enjoying the places I go and the things I see. I like nothing more than working in remote locations and rising to the challenge of capturing the wildanimals that live there. It is a great feeling of being on a remote island with just yourself and thousands upon thousands of different animals for company. Ultimately I like achieving the goal I set out to do, that could be a particular image I had been working on or a location I wanted to get to.

What’s worst about it?

Without doubt the technical side which we now have to do and the more times I go out with my camera means I have more work to do on the computer. I am also away for long periods of time so miss everyone around me and then when I get back I have all this processing to do, you can’t win. Out in the field I don’t really dislike anything about wildlife photography, I moan about the equipment I have to carry, I moan about the distance I have to walk and I moan about the fact that the animal never turned up or the light was not great but I don’t dislike it, I just like moaning.

Favourite species and favourite place?

I do like to take pictures of this animals are their best and lowest. I like the fact it can be so sociable and loving to each other one minute and then fights break out the next and they turn into these maniacs that kick the hell out of each other, very funny. I don’t have a particular favourite location, but I love islands and Africa safaris. I have been to most of the large seabird colonies and varies of wild animals on the Africa safaris

What’s in the bag?

I have a range of lens from 24mm to 500mm and always carry a couple of bodies. I have always used Canon and always will. I always carry my angle finder as this is great for getting really low which I like to do and I always carry my filter kit, but with only a couple of filters, a polarizer and a ND Grad. My Leather man tool is always in the bag as well, but I must remember to take it out when I travel on a plane because I keep getting them confiscated

Your specialties / skills?

I’d like to think that I am a generalist in my photography as I am interested in all aspects from Macro, Wildlife animals, Birds and Mammals. Wildlife photography are a great passion of mine and I would like to think that I am a specialist in this field. The hardest part is getting to and landing on some of these remote outer lying colonies as so many things can go against you, especially weather. If you land on one of these Islands you have to be prepared to spend weeks because conditions can change drastically within hours. So the right equipment is essential.

What will you do in your next life?

I would like to come back as a Wildlife photographer but next time a rich one so I could afford to employ helpers to help me carry my equipment!!

3 tips for beginners

Understand your subject. Understand your location. Understand your equipment. To photograph subjects well requires a deep knowledge of its behaviour and habits. The more you know the easy it will become to take images. You can find information through books but to really get to know it you have to be out in the field and observe them for long periods of time. This takes time but the rewards in the end will reap huge benefits. Find a favourite location and visit it as much as your spare time allows. If you get to know an area well you will find your subjects and what time they are active and at what time of the year. It doesn’t have to be a boreal forest or a Mountain top, it can be a local nature reserve or disused canal, whatever it is there will be wildlife that has occupied it. Get to know your equipment so when something appears or happens it becomes second nature to change settings or exposure quickly and then you will not be fumbling around which could mean you miss that vital once in a lifetime shot.

Could it be better?

Yes of course every image can be better; it could have been raining, better light, better wing position, and more fish. Equipment: Canon 1D MK11, 300mm 2.8, F4, 1/2000, ISO 200 and many advanced equipment

PHOTOGRAPHY

Pauline Sharp

Wildlife Photography