My name is Ed Goodacre. I was born and raised in the Yorkshire Dales in the north of England, but in 2011 I decided to leave Yorkshire and head to New Zealand. I am still here in Wellington to this day. I am a graphic designer, but in my downtime I love getting out and about with my camera shooting wildlife.
How did you start out getting into Wildlife Photography?
I first started getting into photography in 2009 and got my first 'proper camera' which was a micro 4/3 Lumix GH1. I only really started getting into wildlife photography when I did a trip to Australia in 2017* and since then I have been hooked. Before wildlife I was mostly taking landscapes but started enjoying wildlife more and more as I found it much more satisfying getting a unique photo of a one off moment. The covid lockdown was another chance to take photos of the native birds in my back garden - taking photos without having to leave home!
What's your most memorable sighting while out taking photos?
My partner and I have been to Kapiti Island hoping to spot a kokako a few times, so the fourth time we went we didn't have much hope and after we had walked to the top via the Trig track and not seen a whole lot of action we were feeling a bit deflated. But out of nowhere we didn't see one but five Kōkako surrounding us. We were on our own so felt very lucky to have experienced that, then we saw another two as we walked back down to the beach! I didn't get many chances for a good shot as there was a lot of foliage but I managed to get one shot away.
Where is your favourite place to photograph wildlife and why?
I think probably Kaikoura has to be up there. Lots of seabirds, dolphins, whales and seals! I've done a couple of trips there and I'm looking forward to returning again soon. There's plenty of places still left on my to do list though, I've still never been to Stewart Island so hopefully this year!
Outside of NZ, I just got back from South Australia and Kangaroo Island which, despite the recent bushfires, was still absolutely amazing for wildlife.
Which image are you most proud of and why?
This shot of the Mollymawk was something I was really happy with as I had set out to try and get a shot of a Mollymawk staring down the barrel of the lens. Easier said than done when on a small boat, but it was a relatively calm day.
Do you have a go-to piece of kit you use more often than any other? If so, why?
Last year I sold a bit of kit that I no longer used, saved up and splashed out on a Sony A1. Having a high frame rate and silent shutter with no blackout has been absolutely incredible for wildlife photography.
What are your tips for not disturbing nature while in the field?
I'll go with the classic answer of 'Don't get too close'. Observe from a distance and if the animal isn't worried with your presence proceed to take photos. A photo of a distressed animal isn't going to look good anyway!