ANN AVEYARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Wildlife Photographer - Capturing nature's beauty through a lens.
August 2024
After leaving home to study nursing at St Thomas’ London, she met her husband John, on a trip back home to the Welsh countryside for the weekend. Ann says: ‘After John and I got married, we moved up to Lancashire with John's job as he became a housemaster for a boarding school, so we had to live in a school property.’ 'We ended up buying a place on the south coast so we could escape in the school holidays. It was an area we spent a lot of our time in, and we thought it would be an amazing place to settle eventually.'
Ann and John have now lived in Ringwood for over two decades, within walking distance of the town and with the Avon Valley pathway on their doorstep. Ann smiles: 'We feel so fortunate to live here, with the New Forest so close as well as beautiful beaches, so we really have the best of all worlds. I like visiting Beaulieu - there is a gorgeous walk along the river from there to Bucklers Hard which we have often done. The Hawk Conservancy at Andover is also a wonderful day out. They do such amazing conservation work there and I love watching the flying displays.'
She worked at a number of different hospitals over her career, including Lancashire, Bristol and most recently, Royal Bournemouth Hospital. She says: 'I loved caring for people and hopefully making a difference to people's lives. It was hard work and long hours, but we had a great team in the Day Surgery Unit at Bournemouth, and we all pulled together and supported each other. After a successful career as a nurse, I took early retirement.'
For some, entering the post-work years can be difficult to navigate, without the structure and routine of work, many feel a loss of purpose.
Ann filled her new-found time with a part-time course at Bournemouth Arts University in basic photography. She says: “At that time I didn’t have any hobbies as I was so busy with work, but I had always enjoyed taking holiday snaps and family pics on my camera. I didn’t know anything about photography and was often disappointed with my efforts. After starting the course, that was it, I fell in love with photography, enjoying the challenge and learning a new skill. I went on to do many more course and workshops.’
Ann also wanted to be able to capture images for an upcoming safari holiday she had booked to the Masai Mara in Kenya, a place she now runs successful workshops from. She says: ‘After my first trip to Africa I was posting lots of wildlife photos on social media, and after seeing my images a colleague from work contacted me to a ask me if I would photograph their friend’s wedding. Their friends had been let down by a wedding photographer and hadn’t a lot of money to pay someone else. At first I refused but eventually agreed to photograph the wedding. I had time to do some more workshops and to get some experience by shadowing a wedding photographer before I shot this first wedding myself. The wedding went well, the couple were thrilled with their photos and from that wedding I obtained three more bookings so decided to set up a wedding photography and family portraiture business. I loved photographing people, to put them at ease and to bring out their personalities and capture for them some precious memories was a great privilege’.
After photographing weddings for a decade, Ann returned to her main love - wildlife photography. Her burning passion shines through when she talks about this.
‘I am never happier than when I am out with my camera and have a bird or animal in front of my lens. I love Kenya and have been travelling to the Mara for many years, always using the same camp, so I know it very well.’
Ann also runs her own wildlife photo safari workshops in Kenya, for groups keen to gain advice and assistance from the creative, who is a lifetime member of the Guild of Photographers and whose images have won gold awards from the Society of Photographers. She says: ‘People would often ask my advice on going on safari so I thought I would set up some photo safaris for small groups of like-minded people who have a love of wildlife. I don’t do this for profit but for the enjoyment of sharing this wonderful place with others and helping them create some lovely images and great memories.’
When she’s not in Africa, Ann can be found photographing around the UK, including the New Forest on her doorstep, as well as the scenic delights of Scotland and Wales. Ann is the embodiment of loving what you do - by tapping into her talents, values and desires, she has successfully carved a profession showcasing the outstanding beauty of the wild. She says: ‘If you love something then you put your heart and soul into it. It’s so important to enjoy what you do in life and if you enjoy it, then you give it your best effort and it reflects in your success.’
When she isn’t taking photos or editing, Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and four grandchildren. She says: ‘My husband John and I will have been married 52 years next month. He has been incredibly supportive and encouraging throughout my various careers. Although I sometimes think my family think I am a little crazy because of the amount of time I devote to my photography, but it’s something I am so passionate about.’
Whether Ann is spending countless hours in a secluded spot in the New Forest, or patiently waiting in the African savanna, encountering, and photographing animals in their natural habitat is a skill she excels at. Through her stunning photographs, Ann unveils the intricate details of animals, inspiring wonder and encouraging us to protect and cherish the precious planet we live on.