About

I am a 26-year-old wildlife photographer from Edinburgh, Scotland working in the environmental charity sector and specialising in communications. I do most of my photography in and around Edinburgh and Glasgow but I also enjoy travelling to other parts of the UK to see and photograph different wildlife in different settings: the highlands and islands of Scotland, for example, provide some of my favourite locations.

I also use a DSLR camera trap set-up to photograph the badgers which visit my garden in Edinburgh. This has provided me with very convenient photographic opportunities (particularly during the many lockdowns we’ve had). Badgers have always been my favourite animal so it’s been great to discover them so close to home and to finally figure out how to photograph them.

Cover of Scottish Wildlife magazine, July 2022 issue, featuring a kingfisher on a branch.

My kingfisher image on the cover of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Summer 2022 edition of their Magazine.

I regularly undertake freelance work, with work including commisions for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, taking images for both their Edinburgh and Cumbernauld Living Landscape Programmes. The Edinburgh images have been featured on both the ELL website and the cover of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s magazine in July 2022. These images continue to regularly feature in the magazine, on socials, and on the Trust’s website.

Awarded Images

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few images feature in National photography competitions; with images shortlisted and featured in the portfolio books of both the British Wildlife Photography Awards and the Scottish Nature Photography Awards.

Yellowhammer in Gorse

Featured in the Scottish Nature Photography Awards: Portfolio Yearbook 2021

Badger in the Rain

Featured in the British Wildlife Photography Awards: Collection 12

Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary at Dawn

Featured in the Scottish Nature Photography Awards: Portfolio Yearbook 2023

  • Nikon D810

  • Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro

  • Nikon 200-500mm

  • Nikon 35mm f1.8

  • Nikon D3100

  • Nikon 18-55mm DX

  • Nikon SB600 Speedlight

  • Nikon SB28 Speedlight

  • Nikon SB800 Speedlight

  • Camtraptions Transmitter and Receivers

  • Camtraptions PIR Sensor

Over the last few years, since I first began using a DSLR for wildlife photography, I have picked up several different pieces of camera equipment. Here is a list of the main equipment that I use regularly:

Person in dark clothing kneeling on a grassy cliff edge overlooking a foggy ocean and rocky coastline.

Images of me (c) Philip Banks