Jack Perks

Wildlife has always been a passion of mine and will always remain close to me throughout my career. I see myself more of a naturalist with a camera then a wildlife photographer. As early as I can remember I went out with a net and ice cream tub catching bullheads and tadpoles or lifting logs for worms and toads which eventually lead me to picking up a camera and documenting wildlife with it.

I particularly like to photograph the less glamorous of our species like reptiles, insects, fish etc, and try to put them in more of a positive light. There is some specialist equipment used for some of the images including underwater photography. I’ve used a wide range of photographic equipment from long lens to super macro. Freshwater fish are a subject I’m particularly passionate about diving and working in many rivers in the UK. In 2013 I crowdfunded a project to film every freshwater fish in the UK and in 2016 set up a national campaign to get a national fish which the Brown Trout won.

I’m also passionate about teaching others and as well as my own talks and private photo workshops I run a short courses on wildlife photography with Nottingham Trent University and a part time lecturer for the MSc Biological Photography and Imaging at the University of Nottingham. I studied down in Falmouth, Cornwall for a degree in BA (Hons) Marine & Natural History Photography where I did underwater photography as well as many other techniques and really honed my skills.

As well as photography the conservation side of things is important to me: working and volunteering for organisations like The Wildlife trusts, Canal & River Trust, and RSPB doing a range of surveys, recording sightings and photographic work.

I’m primarily a freelancer having worked on various BBC nature shows like Springwatch, Countryfile, The One Show and The Great British Year. I’ve also filmed for angling series Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing. Jack has been awarded in both British Wildlife Photography Awards and Underwater Photographer of the Year.

Jack has written two books for New Holland publishers “Freshwater Fishes of Britain” & “Field Guide to Pond & River Wildlife of Britain & Europe”. He has written for many magazines including BBC Wildlife, Outdoor Photography, Diver and writes a regular column for Fallons Angler.