Devon is a conservation photographer based in Minnesota, USA.\u00a0His work focuses on a variety of subjects, including tarantulas and urban owls. <\/p>\n
How did your career start?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve loved animals my whole life. I\u2019d often go birding and looking for insects in local parks and nature centres, which propelled a love for photography.<\/p>\n
I got my first \u2018wildlife\u2019 lens, a Nikon 200-500, which led me into both wildlife photography and conservation storytelling. Photography is my way to give something back to nature, but I\u2019ll never be able to repay fully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Which of your photographs is most important to you?\u00a0<\/p>\n
A portrait of a tarantula at sunset. Tarantulas<\/a> have been vilified and seen as monsters for millenia; this image shows just how non-confrontational they truly are. The sunset is the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n What\u2019s been your most memorable encounter with wildlife?\u00a0<\/p>\n The first time I found a jumping spider<\/a>. I was looking through my viewfinder, observing this little, big-eyed creature, when it turned and looked directly back at me, cocking its head. It reminded me of a dog cocking its head out of curiosity, and forever changed how I view arachnids and insects.\u00a0<\/p>\n Have you ever found yourself in a precarious situation in the field?\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, when I was in Monteverde, Costa Rica, searching for long-tailed manakins. I was walking an isolated trail by myself, with no phone service, just before sunset. I suddenly realised I was very dehydrated and reached for my water bottle \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n Fighting tunnel vision, dizziness and an elevated heart rate, I managed to stumble back down the trail and narrowly avoided passing out. It was a simple mistake but could have led to a very hairy situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s been your most challenging project so far?<\/p>\n Photographing tarantulas on the move during the mating season in south-east Colorado. Unlike those of a jumping spider, a tarantula\u2019s eyes are very small and tucked behind its pedipalps and front legs, so it\u2019s a real challenge to get them in focus. I have many pictures of tarantulas in motion, but with their eyes covered by a raised limb.<\/p>\n Any epic fails to share?<\/p>\n There is always a major chance that I will epically fail whenever a tripod is involved, like the time I was shooting a long exposure of a river in Tettegouche State Park. I framed my shot and positioned my tripod on a large rock. I turned around for just a split second and… splash. Whoops.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of all your shoots, which has been the most physically challenging?\u00a0<\/p>\n Photographing pika<\/a> in the upper reaches of Rocky Mountain National Park, at an elevation of about 3,600m. I\u2019d never worked at such a high altitude before. But every time you hear a pika \u2018yip\u2019 or spot one darting from rock to rock, you forget about everything else pretty quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s your dream subject?\u00a0<\/p>\n The peacock jumping spiders \u2013 they are absolutely stunning. Their colours are so vibrant and their mating dances cannot be topped.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s the greatest level of discomfort you\u2019ve had to endure on a shoot?\u00a0<\/p>\n Photographing in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, was a real challenge. It was my first experience in a tropical climate and it was very wet. Keeping my gear free from moisture was a real task, especially when I could never fully dry my hands and my clothes were sticking to my body.<\/p>\n But with the diversity of wildlife I got to see and the stunning views, it was a minor inconvenience.\u00a0<\/p>\n What one piece of kit would you not be without?<\/p>\n A quality backpack! Though I usually fill mine with way too much stuff.<\/p>\n Any top tips for budding photographers?\u00a0<\/p>\n Find a mentor in somebody doing what you want to be doing. If they\u2019re a wildlife photographer, ensure they practice ethically. The ILCP<\/a> is a great place to start.\u00a0<\/p>\n Discover more of Devon’s work at devonmatthews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n