About Geoff Simpson Naturalist, Photographer & Columnist
about geoff
Geoff is an international award-winning professional outdoor photographer, naturalist and editorial columnist, whose iconic images capture the ambience of the rich biodiversity of the Iberian Peninsula and British Isles. Based in the stunningly beautiful Serranía de Ronda, Andalucía, Spain, his photographic skill is juxtaposed with a comprehensive knowledge assimilated through his life-long study of the natural world. As a visual artist, he understands the pivotal role of light to animate his compositions; as a photographic expert, his use of finely tuned techniques enables him to capture the essence of his subject in a style that is distinctly his own. A dedicated Gitzo and Canon user, Geoff is a leading exponent of Tilt & Shift optical technology.
biography
Born in Jesmond Dene, Geoff was raised in beautiful rural Northumberland, England. During walks as a teenager along the course of the River Wansbeck, he would frequently sight the azure iridescent flash of a darting kingfisher or be drawn to leaping salmon heaving their shimmering bodies upstream to the spawn pools; below historic Bothal Castle, the fast current bore along elvers in their multitudes coursing between the stepping stones; at the edge of barley fields, where sorrel, fleabane and thistles grew, he would observe small copper and meadow brown butterflies fliting from flower to flower. Witnessing, at a young age, such biodiversity caused to be nurtured within him a profound respect and passion that continues to this day.
The work of wildlife artists: Keith Shackleton and J.C. Harrison served to inspire him during his formative years. A chance meeting with eminent artist Charles Tunnicliffe amplified his desire to capture nature in various forms of media. His gravitation toward photography and more recently HD Video and the ensuing aspiration to work as a professional was borne from the yearning to reacquaint himself with the substance of the living world; to chronicle and share his discoveries with a wider audience.
A lifelong naturalist with an in-depth knowledge of European diurnal Lepidoptera and Old World Chamaeleonidea. His travels to date have taken him from frozen boreal forests of arctic Sweden, to the cork-forest and steppe plains of Alentejo, to the Sierra Nevada mountain range of Andalucìa and to the remote upland rainforests forests of the Eastern Arc and Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. There exits many thousands of points in between, all endowed with incredible biodiversity, culture and natural beauty that inspires Geoff in so many different ways.
Geoff writes a nature diary article each month for the award winning Derbyshire Magazine and to date some 264 images have graced the front covers of many of today's most popular editorial publications including, BBC Wildlife, Country Living, Countryman, Digital SLR User, Digital Camera, The Field, The Natural World and PhotoPlus to name a few.
international awards
- 2010 - British Wildlife Photography Awards - International Year of Biodiversity 2010 category - Winner
- 2010 - British Wildlife Photography Awards - International Year of Biodiversity 2010 category - Highly Commended
- 2010 - British Wildlife Photography Awards - Portrait category - Highly Commended
- 2008 - Nature's Best Photography - Windland Smith Rice International Awards - Wildlife category - Highly Honoured
- 2005 - International Wildbird Photographer of the Year - British Birds category - Winner
the visionwild gallery
The Visionwild Gallery is located in the ancient walled city of Ronda, Andalucía, Spain and houses a range of signed fine art limited edition prints and fine art acrylic glass face mounted artworks for the discerning client.
clients include
Astra Zenica • BBC • Calumet • Canon • Chicago Botanical Gardens • Ciba Vision • DEFRA • Future Publishing • Hilton Hotels Kew Gardens • Lufthansa • John Muir Trust • Saatchi & Saatchi • Scottish Wildlife Trust • VisitScotland • Wetlands & Wildfowl Trust
editorial publications include
BBC Wildlife • Canon Profile • Country Living • Derbyshire Magazine • GEO Saison • Digital Camera • Nature's Best • PhotoPlus Outdoor Photography • Photography Monthly • Natural World • RSPB Birds • The Guardian • The Olive Press (Spain) • The Times
television and radio appearances
Canal Sur (Spain) • BBC 1 - Countryfile • BBC 1 - The One Show • BBC 1 - North-West Tonight • BBC Radio 4 • BBC Radio Derby BBC Radio Manchester • Talk Radio Europe (Spain) • Radio Gibraltar
achievements
- Former contributing field editor with www.naturephotographers.net in 2001 foundeded the UKNP forum.
- Profile showcase on Microsoft Media Expression website.
- Member of IEPA - International Environment Photographers Association
- The first professional outdoor photographer in the UK to initiate and advertise the one-to-one style of tuition - 2001.
- A Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain qualifying with Distinction.
- Image Editor - Andalucía Bird Society editorial journal "Birds of Andalucía"
office manager
- Fee Brookes - writer, office manager and marketing guru (Languages - English & Spanish) and editor of "Birds of Andalucía" the editorial journal of the Andalucía Bird Society.
the internet