Location: United Kingdom
Matthew is a London-based wildlife photographer and filmmaker. His personal photographic work has received recognition in Travel Photographer of the Year on numerous occasions, and his films such as the
documentary “Start Small. Start Now. Hong Kong’s Plastic Story.” have been viewed millions of times after being
displayed in Hong Kong’s Times Square and on Cathay
Pacific’s in flight entertainment system.
As well as exhibiting, Matthew’s work regularly appears in
international publications such as National Geographic
Traveler Magazine, Conde Nast and Lonely Planet. He also undertakes commissions for travel companies, tourist boards and commercial clients such as Talisker Whisky, Visit Wales and Nikon.
When Matthew isn’t photographing, he loves teaching others to do so, running photography
workshops and holidays, and giving talks to photography societies, schools and at travel shows.
“Nothing gives me more satisfaction than capturing unique, inimitable moments and
beautiful light. I aim to capture intimate photographs and films that tell a story, and reveal an aspect of my subject’s character. Photographs have the power to make a
difference, and this is something I strive to do with my work. Being able to support
conservation initiatives through wildlife photography is a privilege. It is also a necessity if our earth’s wild places are to be enjoyed by future generations in the same way. That is why I am so excited to be supporting the vital work of the Mara Predator
Conservation Programme and Conservation Guardians.”
Meet the individuals of the Maasai Mara.
Each character has their own personal story, unique history, and uncertain future. They have distinctive personalities, close bonds, feared enemies, and emotions as strong as your own.
By highlighting these personal stories, showing animals to be emotional individuals rather than just an anonymous statistic in a wider population, I hope to promote a desire to protect and care for this precious wildlife. I hope that being understanding and compassionate of the challenges faced by an individual will feel even more tangible and easy to relate to than when thinking of a population as a whole.
This collection of photographs was captured while spending a month in Mara North Conservancy in Kenya in 2022. Spending time following specific individuals every day, their unique characteristics, personalities, behavioural patterns, and displays of emotion became increasingly apparent. It isn’t just the markings that differentiate one lion from the next for example, it is the way an individual behaves and how he or she interacts with other lions in the pride.
In one such display of emotion in the days after Lola (one of the Marsh Pride lionesses) loses one of her litter of two cubs, there is a noticeable closeness among the Marsh Pride, spending more time than usual rubbing heads and keeping the final remaining cub close.
Similarly, Mara North is not just home to ‘cheetah’. It is home to “Kweli”, first time mother to three 11 month old cubs. She is a strong, attentive and determined individual, singularly focused on finding the next meal for her hungry cubs and preparing them for their departure from her in the not too distant future.
Through these photos and stories I hope to give you a sense of the individual personalities of the animals I spent time with; the Marsh Pride’s playfulness and affectionate side, Edwin’s calm and trusting nature, and Kweli’s grit. Wherever possible, I use a shorter lens to create a much more intimate feel to the photographs, putting you right there next to the subject. I seek unique, inimitable moments, beautiful light, and above all a photograph that reveals an aspect of the subject’s character.
10% of all proceeds will be going to Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) and Conservancy Guardians to support the amazing work that they do in the Mara. Their vital research has proven that human activities have a significant impact on wildlife, illustrated perfectly by the finding that cheetahs raise fewer cubs on average inside the Masai Mara National Reserve compared to outside of it. This is not how it should be. We have a duty to travel responsibly, and support efforts to conserve and manage wildlife in the great wilderness that is the Maasai Mara Ecosystem.
Every tusk is unique. Each scratch, mark and chip hints at a story in Flopsy's past. This is where ivory belongs.
Lola's two cubs play with one of their mother's cousins on top of a termite mound at sunset.
These two cubs are absolute terrors, never missing an opportunity to find a high vantage point, climb on their mother, or stalk the tail of one of the other pride members as they look for a place to settle down for the day.
Sadly, during the month I spent following them, the young male cub disappeared. There was a noticeable closeness among the pride in the days after, but it wasn’t long before the final remaining cub was back causing mischief. Lola’s final cub is still going strong and will no doubt be a future leader in the Marsh Pride.
A male Grey Crowned Crane in Mara North Conservancy.
For all the excitement of photographing the big cats of the Maasai Mara, spending a couple of hours lying on the ground photographing a pair of Grey Crowned Cranes courting was undoubtedly a highlight.
They are such striking birds. Their faces are full of expression and the way they interact with each other is fascinating. They have the most beautiful courtship dance, head-bobbing, leaping, bowing and fluttering their wings.
Edwin is truly the definition of a gentle giant.
In the moment, being so close to such an imposing individual is all consuming. I feel immense privilege that he trusts me enough to come so close. There is a true sense of awe. He commands my attention, and at that second, everything else becomes totally inconsequential.
Despite his impressive size, and perhaps because of it, he exudes a quiet confidence and is completely unfazed by my presence. He strolls over inquisitively, towering above me as I lie across the front seats of an open-sided and open-top Suzuki. There is nothing between us. He appears almost proud of his stature and looks me directly in the eyes as if to say in the most calm way possible, “I’ve got my eyes on you”.
Half Tail basking in the early morning sun.
After recently losing his coalition partner, Logol, he is now the sole leader of the Marsh Pride which makes it a very uncertain time for him as he tries to maintain control of the the Pride. Prior to losing Logol he would spend an irresponsible amount of time away from the pride, but in recent days he has been spending much more time closer to home so he can use the three other young males in the pride as added security for keeping an eye on any encroaching males.
Half Tail has a reputation for being very grumpy, and very powerful. When a lion like that stares directly at you, you feel it right to your core.
“Scratch”
“Kindred Spirit”
“Crane I Help You?”
“Nomad”
“Dawn”
