Marc Coady, 42, a self-taught landscape and wildlife photographer from north Dorset, took up photography in 2021.
Marc said the photography initially focused on landscapes before developing a passion for wildlife.
A close encounter with a White Tailed Eagle at Christchurch Harbour (Image: Marc Coady)
A close encounter with a White Tailed Eagle at Christchurch Harbour (Image: Marc Coady)
On Sunday, April 19, Marc returned to the harbour determined to photograph the white-tailed eagle, having previously made multiple visits without success.
This time, after waiting for several hours, he was rewarded with what he described as an “unpredictable” and memorable shot.
Marc said: “I had been to Christchurch a few times before but had failed attempts.
“I kept going because they are very majestic, and I went down specifically to take photos of them.
“I waited for a couple of hours before spotting them.
“There were three of them, and I managed to capture this moment of one flying in front of two kayakers.
“It was completely unpredictable.”
A close encounter with a White Tailed Eagle at Christchurch Harbour (Image: Marc Coady)
A close encounter with a White Tailed Eagle at Christchurch Harbour (Image: Marc Coady)
Marc began photography using his phone, but his growing passion led him to invest in a Canon EOS R3 camera.
He said wildlife photography, in particular, keeps him engaged due to its unpredictability.
Marc said: “I do photography for fun, but it’s become a real passion.
“Wildlife photography is exciting because you never know what’s going to happen, their expressions and reactions are always unpredictable.”
After weeks of unsuccessful visits to the harbour, Marc said he was very pleased with the final result.
“In the last three weeks I had a lot of failed attempts, but I was really happy with these shots,” he added.
A close encounter with a White Tailed Eagle at Christchurch Harbour (Image: Marc Coady)
Marc shared the images on social media, where they received an overwhelmingly positive response.
“There were a lot of positive comments, which I’m really happy about. When you get that perfect shot, it’s a real rush of adrenaline.”
The photographer regularly visits beauty spots across Dorset, including Hengistbury Head, the Jurassic Coast and Lulworth Cove.
He has also captured images of a variety of wildlife, including badgers and kingfishers.
“It’s always an exciting day,” he said.