In the 10th of a series of articles featuring the images of local photographers who document the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the surrounding area, Mark O’Dell presents his shot of a Mute Swan in flight
I took this image of a Mute Swan flying towards me in Wanstead Park. I find photographing wildlife is a fantastic way to capture the beauty of the natural world, get out in the fresh air and exercise both body and mind.
I’m a professional photographer and content creator based in Woodford Green. I’ve shot a diverse range of subjects for commercial and editorial clients and the occasional wedding, too. I enjoy photographing people, both professionally and those I meet in day-to-day life. I love telling stories through my images and my love of photography allows me to connect with awesome companies and individuals. I also provide one-to-one photography training sessions, covering aspects such as setting up your camera, learning about exposure, flash or anything connected to photography. I now also provide advice and tuition on getting to grips with wildlife photography. When I’m not working, you’ll find me out and about photographing the wonderful wildlife we have locally.
We are so lucky in Redbridge, having access to fantastic parks and, as individuals, there are numerous ways we can engage with and support wildlife conservation efforts. I support the RSPB and regularly visit their reserves throughout the country. I also photograph birds and insects that exist within the borough and share my images with the local community (some of which are housebound) through social media. Bringing the outside world to them through my images and words is particularly fulfilling.
On my regular walks in the local parks, I’ve met and photographed some interesting people and made some long-lasting friendships, too.
A lot of our parks, including Wanstead, rely heavily on volunteers to keep them looking shipshape by litter picking and other manual labour, so a big shout-out to those who give their time freely to maintain and improve these green spaces.
To view more of Mark’s wildlife photos, visit wnstd.com/odell
For more information on Mark’s portrait photography, visit markodell.com
