Neil McIntyre a photgrapher in profile

by Jon Jayes

Neil McIntyre is a Scottish photographer based in the Aviemore area of the Highlands.   As a freelance photographer and writer his wildlife and landscape pictures appear regularly in UK magazines.  He has illustrated books and also supplies pictures to three picture libraries and his photographs are sold around the world.  He was also the Open category winner of the BDS 40th Anniversary Photo Competition.

Neil first became involved in photography some 23 years ago when he was seventeen, using his first camera -  a Pentax ME Super - on the road to a  professional career. 

I met Neil in the Cairngorms and asked him about his work,  his equipment and his technique. 

I wondered what sparked his interest in photography and wildlife and what he considered to be his first successful picture?

NM.  'The interest in wildlife was always there.  My father was a gamekeeper and seeing the red deer,  roe and the mountain hares was always of interest to a small boy but initially the photographic interest came when Hugh Miles,  the wildlife camera man,  came to the estate to make a film on ospreys and that triggered the interest in photography.  It was a way for me to capture the images that I'd seen and bring them back and show people what was out there.'

JJ. 'Can you remember your first successful picture?'

NM.  'Aye,  very much so.  It was a picture of a Red Grouse that was published in the Scottish Sporting Gazette and that triggered things off to get pictures published.  It's not my best or favourite picture - I don't have a favourite -  more recent work is much better but it (the grouse picture) started things off for me.'

JJ. 'What inspires you?  Is it nature or photography or a combination of both and do you have a favourite subject?'

NM. 'Probably nature but obviously photography too.  I tend to photograph the same species over a long period and build up a good familiarization of them and learn as much as I can.  The more you see and study them the more picture potential there is but I think I'd have to say the red deer are my favourite,  no doubt about it - and also the red squirrels.  Those are the things I spend most of my time photographing.'

JJ. 'What is it about the deer that appeals the most?'

NM. 'It's such an elegant looking animal and particularly up here in the Highlands.  It epitomizes pretty much of what the landscape's about.  It's a very majestic animal and just seeing them is sufficient inspiration.'         

JJ. 'What do you look for  when trying to get a good deer picture? 

NM. 'We all have preconceived ideas of what we would like to see but we also have to be ready for spontaneous action. I think it's difficult to plan precisely what you expect to take as wildlife is always spontaneous.'

JJ. 'Do you have a tried and tested technique and what equipment would you prefer to use?

NM. 'Every wildlife subject can be different and sometimes even  using a vehicle as a hide seems to work well with deer,  particularly in the winter months.  I sometimes use small hides for some animals - but not for deer - and I also use a baiting station with things like squirrels.'

JJ. 'Do you use camouflage clothing?'

NM. 'No,  not really.  Just dark clothing generally.  I sometimes stalk the deer to get a closer picture but often I spend my time quietly in areas that I know they'll frequent.'

JJ. ' Do you have a favourite geographical area for taking photographs?'

NM. ' Well,  the Cairngorms are very close and familiar  but I like the west coast too,  Mull and Ullapool way for both wildlife and landscapes.'

JJ. 'What is your favourite time of day for photography and why?'

NM. 'Early morning, I think.  It's quiet,  there's no one about and there's a lot more wildlife to see at that time.  I like winter time too. There's that quality of light,  low for most of the day,  clearer and softer and more atmospheric.'

JJ. 'What equipment are you currently using and what media do you record onto?'

NM. 'I use Canon equipment,  both film and digital.  I bought my first digital camera about a year ago,  it's a Canon 20D.   I mostly use my 500mm Image Stabilised lens and Fuji 50ASA Velvia film.  I haven't  tried the 100ASA yet.   I also use a converter which will take the film camera up to around 720mm and the digital to nearly a 1000mm - which opens up new possibilities.'

JJ. 'Is there a piece of photographic equipment that you'd like to own that you don't have at the moment.'

NM. 'No,  not really.  The 500mm lens was the thing that I always wanted and it's the workhorse that I use day after day.  There's always something new coming out and as long as you have the equipment that does the job for you, that's fine.  At the end of the day,  it's the person behind the camera that counts not necessarily the equipment that's being used.'

JJ. 'Is there one piece of equipment that you would recommend to an aspiring wildlife photographer.'

NM. 'In this country,  where the wildlife can be quite shy,  there's no getting away from it,  you need a reasonably sized telephoto lens.  You could get away with a 300mm lens but 400mm or 500mm would be better.  Buy the best and fastest you can afford.

JJ. 'How much importance do you put on camera stability?

NM. 'I think that's something that a lot of folk overlook.  They think about cameras and lenses and so forth but forget about what supports the camera and that's absolutely essential.   I use different things and find a tripod very useful but the bean bag is the most convenient for me.  I use it in a vehicle and when I'm stalking.  It's such a simple piece of equipment but performs a very important task.  Also,  image stabilised lenses have been a revelation and can overcome a lot of the low light problems with movement.'

JJ. 'Do you prefer digital or film format.'

NM. 'Each has it's own advantage.  I've got a soft spot for film  but there's such a lot of benefits from digital.  Digital allows quite a bit of experimentation and I think the current quality is fine.

JJ. 'What advice would you give to those members aspiring to win competitions or hoping to become professional wildlife photographers.?'

NM. 'For competitions and professional submissions,  you have to be very hard on your own pictures.  Edit them harshly.  Compare with previous winners.  Always submit the best pictures that you have.'

' Look for sharpness and clarity first but many things should be considered.  Composition, sharpness, content and subject matter.  It comes down to the quality of the photographer's eye for spotting something a wee bit different and being able to successfully record it. Originality would certainly be something I'd be looking for.

I don't see anything wrong with digitally taking out of pictures things like blades of grass or distracting backgrounds,  lightening or darkening but I don't think it's right that things should be added that weren't there.  This can do a lot of harm to wildlife photography. '

JJ. 'What would you consider to be the essence of a good wildlife photographer?

NM. 'Patience?   Everyone has their own opinion of what makes a good picture and it's very much a personal thing at the end of the day but I like a picture that tells a story or suggests a wee bit more than just what's in the photograph.  Giving a feeling to the viewer of being there when the photograph was taken.'

JJ. '  What's your ambition now as a wildlife photographer?'

NM. 'I'd like to do another bigger book on a lot of different species so that's an idea that I'm working on at the moment.  On the whole,  things are changing so quickly in the photographic and publishing world so you just have to have faith in yourself and keep thinking of new ideas - nothing too radical just keep taking and selling pictures.

JJ.  Thank you.

First published in the Deer Journal.