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A portrait of Rachel Bigsby

wildlife photographer and filmmaker

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Two Northern Gannets court on a narrow sandstone ledge near the base of the towering cliffs of Noss, Shetland. Their necks intertwine gracefully, forming a symmetrical shape against a dark hollow in the rock. The surrounding sandstone is streaked with white guano, creating natural curves that frame the birds. The scene is captured from a small boat below, timed precisely during a moment of alignment in the choppy sea swell.

'The Art of Courtship'

Winner of  ‘Natural Artistry’ in Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2023).

Each summer, the sculpted sandstone island of Noss, Shetland, hosts more than 22,000 Northern Gannets which return to breed on the ledges carved by the elements. As I stood in a small boat in turbulent sea swell at the foot of the towering cliffs, I noticed the perfect pair, isolated on a lower ledge, intertwining their necks and framed by streaks of guano. 

I immediately saw potential, and realising my vision would be tricky, anxiously awaited the few seconds that the boat aligned with the rocks, hoping for a chance. Everything came together - the courting Gannets drew up against a dark hollow on the guano-painted curves of sandstone and I got my shot, enhancing the complementary shapes in black and white.

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

A black and white, landscape image of Penguins at Port Charcot, Antarctica. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

An icy blue, wide angled landscape image of a Leopard Seal asleep on a floating sheets of ice on a glassy calm ocean, beneath mountains in Antarctica. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A backlit image of a Polar Bear cub, black background, silhouette aglow in the golden light of the setting Arctic autumn sun. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A motion blur capture of an Arctic Fox, in black and white, as it scavenges along the pebble beach. Gritty, textured, sharp. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A black and white environmental image of a Polar Bear, insignificant in the frame, in the vast polar landscape of Svalbard that features a towering plateau mountain with light and shadows bouncing off its form. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A minimalist image of a Polar Bear, walking a black line of water formed by a crack in the ice. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A black and white portrait of a Polar Bear, looking back over its shoulder with one paw pressed forward in the powdery snow. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A black and white wide angle image of a tusked Walrus, hauling out of the bitter cold Arctic ocean as icy waves lap and splash on its blubbery back. Wet pebbles glisten in the soft light, creating bokeh balls that frame the scene, while behind, snow capped mountains tower in the distance.

A dominant male Southern Elephant Seal roars while advancing across a sandy shoreline toward a rival male.

An environmental image of a Polar Bear in the vast polar landscape of Svalbard, walking atop of an icy ridge. Icicles hang down and compressed snow creates layers, waves and patterns that mimic the shape of the bear. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A black and white environmental image of a Polar Bear, insignificant in the frame, in the vast polar landscape of Svalbard that features a towering peaked mountain with light and shadows bouncing off its form. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A minimalist black and white image of a Polar Bear trekking through the vast, snow covered landscape. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

An intimate portrait of a Polar Bear devouring a seal. The fresh flesh and blood red stains to the purity of the Polar Bear fur is a powerful contrast, as the bear places its teeth around the body and ribs fall to the side. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A portrait of a blood stained Polar Bear, surveying its surroundings for potential unwanted visitors, attracted by the smell of the freshly killed seal between its paws. The bear, a creamy coloured creature, looks back over its shoulder. Its nose wet and glistening, as delicate snowflakes fall from it. Its fatty body, rippled in beautiful form as it turns its neck, its spine the perfect curve, its fur so tangible. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A once in a lifetime photograph of a Polar Bear, staring down the lens from behind a block of baby blue ice. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A portrait of a Polar Bear, looking back over its shoulder with one paw pressed forward in the powdery snow. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A simple portrait of a Polar Bear, face blood stained, eyes half-lidded, snout down and smiling. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A Polar Bear lifts its head as it stands in a strong stance at the edge of the ice sheet, its reflection ripples in smooth and soft water. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A strong and powerful portrait of a mighty Polar Bear, head on, staring down the barrel of the lens. Its face, blood stained from a recent kill, intimidating yet alluring. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A strong and powerful portrait of a mighty Polar Bear, head on, staring down the barrel of the lens. Its face, blood stained from a recent kill. The image captured a comical, fleeting moment that features the bear sticking its tongue out to the camera. The image reflects photographer Rachel Bigsby’s distinctive style: intimate, patient, and poetic, highlighting the strength and fragility of life at the edge of the world.

A series of ethereal images showing wild European Badgers emerging through a vibrant carpet of bluebells in ancient woodland. In soft, dreamlike light, the badgers peer through stems and shadow, their black-and-white faces framed by violet blooms. The photographs capture intimate, elusive moments born of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built deep trust with this clan. A rare and magical glimpse into one of the UK’s most iconic species in a setting few ever witness.

A series of ethereal images showing wild European Badgers emerging through a vibrant carpet of bluebells in ancient woodland. In soft, dreamlike light, the badgers peer through stems and shadow, their black-and-white faces framed by violet blooms. The photographs capture intimate, elusive moments born of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built deep trust with this clan. A rare and magical glimpse into one of the UK’s most iconic species in a setting few ever witness.

A series of ethereal images showing wild European Badgers emerging through a vibrant carpet of bluebells in ancient woodland. In soft, dreamlike light, the badgers peer through stems and shadow, their black-and-white faces framed by violet blooms. The photographs capture intimate, elusive moments born of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built deep trust with this clan. A rare and magical glimpse into one of the UK’s most iconic species in a setting few ever witness.

A series of ethereal images showing wild European Badgers emerging through a vibrant carpet of bluebells in ancient woodland. In soft, dreamlike light, the badgers peer through stems and shadow, their black-and-white faces framed by violet blooms. The photographs capture intimate, elusive moments born of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built deep trust with this clan. A rare and magical glimpse into one of the UK’s most iconic species in a setting few ever witness.

A series of ethereal images showing wild European Badgers emerging through a vibrant carpet of bluebells in ancient woodland. In soft, dreamlike light, the badgers peer through stems and shadow, their black-and-white faces framed by violet blooms. The photographs capture intimate, elusive moments born of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built deep trust with this clan. A rare and magical glimpse into one of the UK’s most iconic species in a setting few ever witness.

A series of ethereal images showing wild European Badgers emerging through a vibrant carpet of bluebells in ancient woodland. In soft, dreamlike light, the badgers peer through stems and shadow, their black-and-white faces framed by violet blooms. The photographs capture intimate, elusive moments born of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built deep trust with this clan. A rare and magical glimpse into one of the UK’s most iconic species in a setting few ever witness.

A collection of intimate photographs of wild European Badgers in woodland and meadow environments, captured across multiple British springs and summers. The scenes are washed in tones of lush green and warm summer yellow, with badgers emerging from their setts, foraging, and pausing amidst natural light. These rare moments are the result of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built trust with a single clan to reveal the quiet beauty and personality of this elusive species.

A collection of intimate photographs of wild European Badgers in woodland and meadow environments, captured across multiple British springs and summers. The scenes are washed in tones of lush green and warm summer yellow, with badgers emerging from their setts, foraging, and pausing amidst natural light. These rare moments are the result of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built trust with a single clan to reveal the quiet beauty and personality of this elusive species.

A collection of intimate photographs of wild European Badgers in woodland and meadow environments, captured across multiple British springs and summers. The scenes are washed in tones of lush green and warm summer yellow, with badgers emerging from their setts, foraging, and pausing amidst natural light. These rare moments are the result of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built trust with a single clan to reveal the quiet beauty and personality of this elusive species.

A collection of intimate photographs of wild European Badgers in woodland and meadow environments, captured across multiple British springs and summers. The scenes are washed in tones of lush green and warm summer yellow, with badgers emerging from their setts, foraging, and pausing amidst natural light. These rare moments are the result of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built trust with a single clan to reveal the quiet beauty and personality of this elusive species.

A collection of intimate photographs of wild European Badgers in woodland and meadow environments, captured across multiple British springs and summers. The scenes are washed in tones of lush green and warm summer yellow, with badgers emerging from their setts, foraging, and pausing amidst natural light. These rare moments are the result of years-long dedication by photographer Rachel Bigsby, who built trust with a single clan to reveal the quiet beauty and personality of this elusive species.

Rachel on New Island with Black Browed Albatross .JPG

Field notes
from the edge
of the ocean.

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