GRAEME PURDY
Born in 1971, Northern Ireland
Graeme Purdy's remote-style wildlife photography grew from humble beginnings: forged before the onset of digital photography in the school darkroom, his passion was encouraged by his photographer family’s culture of sharing photographs and travel slides. As he recalls, “It was natural and normal that I wanted to press the shutter.”
Purdy’s photographs consist of iconic animal close-ups taken from "inside their world." Expressed in evocative and engaging monochrome prints in keeping with the timeless majesty and integrity of his subjects, “I’m for a cloudy day” he notes, “the animals’ eyes are wider, you might be stuck with a boring animal, but I’d stop and work for days to try and get a different image.” Sharing a concern of countless others in the negative impact we have on the environment, Purdy aims to convey the intimacy, allure and raw beauty of this fading natural world.
SPOTLIGHT: Raw Nature
This lion was taken in a moment of surprise, when a lone injured male separated from the pack in the aftermath of a buffalo hunt. Purdy anticipated the lion’s whereabouts, jumping out with his camera to where he thought the lion might appear, startling it into the shot.
We are thrilled to announce that this print awarded Graeme 2nd place in the 2021 Sony World Photography Awards in the wildlife and nature category. This wonderful image was also chosen as the cover image for the 2021 catalogue.
Graeme Purdy
Raw Nature
Archival C-Type print w.face mount
Ed of 9, +2AP, Black wooden frame
160 x 125cm (framed)
£3950
EIGHT FEET
Graeme's 'Eight Feet' series are so called because they are taken from a distance of eight feet or less in the animals' habitats, with a remote-control mobile unit which he built to house his camera. The results are incredibly impressive and engaging ground-level portraits which document the intimate beauty of some of nature's most iconic beasts. They represent a novel take on the long lens method of photography traditionally opted for by wildlife enthusiasts.
The secret to Graham’s success is a calculated formula of experience in the field, innovation and patience. “When you have a camera on a remote buggy, you realise that certain animals are more friendly than others - you start to get more engaging and connected images. Quite often, there's direct eye contact, and all the while, I'm really thinking: how do I get an ethical image, where I'm sort of knocking on their door instead of crashing their party, so to speak." GRAEME PURDY
Graeme Purdy
One Hippo
Archival C-Type print w.face mount
Ed of 9, +2AP, Black wooden frame
160 x 120cm (framed)
EDITION FINISHED
SPOTLIGHT: The Underdog
This work emerged on location in Alaska, where the only thing separating Purdy from these bears was an electric fence. The slightest camera sound was enough to get their attention in the height of the salmon-fishing season, lending to beautiful footage and this portrait:
"This is the bear we grew to love, an 18-month-old who didn’t have a care in the world as his mother-bear was there to show him the ropes.” GRAEME PURDY
Graeme Purdy
The Underdog - Behind the Scenes
UNDERWATER SERIES
Like many of us, as a result of human consumption, Purdy has become increasingly concerned with delivering a message of co-existence with the planet, taking photos that connect people to conservation issues. His 'Final Frontier' series, shot off the coast of Mexico, ask us to take a closer look at the story that should be told, but hasn’t, with regards to marine wildlife and their ability to co-operate.
Graeme Purdy - Woolff Gallery's video for his exhibition 'Final Frontier'
SPOTLIGHT: The Photographer
Graeme photographing an alligator from 3 feet away in Mexico
Looking for lions in the Masai Mara
THE BEGINNINGS
Purdy’s practice began over 20 years ago closer to home with the famous Red Deer in Richmond Park. Here, he realised his passion and metier lay in the documentation of nature. As he experimented with different remote camera options, he began to understand deer behaviour from a novel perspective. He spent over 50 days shooting the deer, and at times, his objective of getting up-close-and-personal with the larger stags seemed impossible. Here, however, he captures a sense of burgeoning anticipation in a group of young stags, and a lone male. There was enough time to take the shot from about 3 feet away before Purdy made a slow retreat.
“Once they start to lose their breeding rights, the older males go to pasture with the old boys - they’re the ones you have to get close to” GRAEME PURDY
Graeme Purdy
Mega Stag
Print w.face mount
Black wooden frame
160 x 125cm (framed)
£3950
Graeme Purdy
Four Stags
Archival C-Type print w.face mount
Ed of 9, +2AP, Black wooden frame
160 x 100cm (framed)
£3950