ABOUT LOUISE
Hi! My name is Louise Ward and I’ve been interested in photography since my Grandad bought me a panoramic camera way back when I was around 10 years old.
Fast forward to 2018 and unfortunately, I suffered a serious spinal injury (see image) that caused extreme pain and discomfort, especially my nerves running down my entire right leg.
To try and take my mind off the continuous pain, I bought a Canon Powershot SX430 IS point and shoot camera. Starting off by taking pictures of garden birds landing on the feeders, planes heading overhead to land at Birmingham Airport and the full moon, I quickly developed a real passion for taking photos.
Moving forward to January 2019. I decided to purchase my first DSLR camera, the Canon 750d. My collection of camera bodies, lens and equipment has increased massively since 2019, examples include, the Canon 7d Mark ii the Tamron SP AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USD telephoto lens for wildlife and fast moving shots, a Sigma 150-600mm telephoto zoom lens, for a more romantic close up feel to the subject, and the nifty 50, the Canon 50mm f1.8 for portrait and studio work.
I have also self-taught myself how to use full manual settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, etc) thus allowing me to have greater control over the shots I take.
Awards, Nominations and Media:
In 2020 I was a category winner in the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust photography competition. I won the 'wild spaces' category with my image of a fledgling long-tailed tit and its parent enjoying the sunset.
In 2022 I won the 'captivating colours' category of the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust photography competition. My moorhen family portrait image was chosen by Iolo Williams who described it as “an intimate glimpse at a Moorhen family with the bright red beaks adding a dash of colour”.
In January 2022, one of my images was shown on BBC's Winterwatch. They were talking about wildlife seen earlier than usual. My red admiral image was captured outside my Mum-In-Law's house near Havant, Hampshire at the beginning of January!
In March 2023, I was incredibly lucky enough to capture the Northern Lights from the West Midlands, United Kingdom. The image was shown on both the BBC News website and ITV News website plus BBC Midlands Today and ITV Central News on TV!
