Wildlife photographer sees eye to eye with animals

We’ve all enjoyed seeing kookaburras, echidnas or wallabies in our gardens or bushland. But few of us have been as close to the animals with which we share this place as Anthony Wardle, a landscaper, horticulturist and wildlife photographer.

Anthony, who works at the University of Wollongong, has photographed red-bellied black snakes rising suddenly out of long grass, feral deer locking antlers in suburban streets, and endangered Greater Gliders about to take flight from enormous eucalypts. And when you look at one of his fauna photos, you almost feel the subject is right there in front of you.

The Growing Illawarra Natives project, which I help coordinate, has been fortunate to feature some of Anthony’s photographs in our 2027 calendar. You can see a few of the images below. They give you some idea of his ability to connect with the animals he photographs and convey a profound sense of who they are.

This photographer has no formal training, and doesn’t use any of the AI-enhanced "tools of the trade" available through well-known digital photo processing software. When I asked how he achieved the final results, he replied, "At most, I crop and adjust the light levels in an image."

Anthony told me his photographic practice has evolved from childhood. 

"Dad loved the bush, animals and photography, and he had a farm in the mountains behind Bateman’s Bay. He took photos from when he was young. So I got into nature photography very young myself.

"It was something that I grew into gradually, year over year, and in tandem with my interest in the natural world. I feel right at home in the wild places, with our native animals and plants.

"These days, I photograph birds and reptiles, and I fish, and hunt feral animals like deer, but it all stemmed from my bush upbringing way back then. It’s not just an infatuation, but a way of life, and almost an addiction. I feel real anxiety when I don’t have my camera with me.”

All creatures great and small

Anthony is not a purist when it comes to his subjects, saying: "I don’t mind photographing deer that I also hunt. Some people get very sentimental about it, and ask me how I can photograph animals I also kill. But it’s all part of life."

For this reason, he added, "The parameters for the Growing Illawarra Natives calendar were challenging for me. Some of my best photos are in Coral Trees, which is a weed species. I also took some photographs of a Little Pied Cormorant at [the University of Wollongong], trying to eat a frog, with plastic around its neck, the sort that comes in artificial turf. That turf is devastating for wildlife. I tried to rescue the bird but didn’t manage. I’m really sad it got away."

Emotional connection with animals 

Anthony’s photos express a direct relationship with the animal subjects. I asked him about this striking quality of his images.

"I have a connection with the fauna and flora of the area, having been born and brought up here in the Illawarra," he said.

"I like bringing our local plants and animals to the attention of folks who don’t normally come in contact with them.

"I enjoy showing people around the bushland, helping other people get into birding, doing nocturnal walks at the University [of Wollongong]. It gives me a good feeling to showcase our local biodiversity."

You can judge this for yourself from the photos. 

Look at the above photo of a Brushtail Possum with a fruiting Wombat Vine (Eustrephus latifolius) and consider Anthony’s commentary: 

Brushtail Possum: 'O-oh.' 

Anthony: 'What are you doing?'

Poss: 'Um, nothing? [Whoops, I’ve been busted.]'

This may be anthropomorphising the Brushtail Possum, by attributing human characteristics to it, but it could also be seen as some kind of mutual understanding between the human and the possum. I prefer the latter. And the same goes for the following image.

Anthony said the Noisy Pitta pictured above had great attitude.

"I could see its body language saying, 'Come at me, what are you doing in my living room?'"

Having seen these rare and striking birds myself a couple of times in local bushland, Anthony’s interpretation of the scene resonated with me. It is just is one of hundreds of beautiful and compelling portraits of the more-than-human beings with whom we are lucky enough to share this part of the world.

The Growing Illawarra Natives calendar 

The Growing Illawarra Natives calendar costs $25 plus postage if required. Copies are available at:

• Collins Booksellers Thirroul (from 9 November);
• Buried in Books in Port Kembla (from 9 November);
• or order directly via the Growing Illawarra Natives website.