Limavady photographer showcasing the beauty of wildlife

A Limavady photographer has been showcasing the beauty of wildlife here in Ireland through his stunning portraits of animals in their natural habitat.

Desmond Loughery is an experienced photographer who specialises in wildlife photography.

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His pictures are stunning and give a real insight into the beautiful wildlife that we have here in Ireland.

It's Desmond's level of patience, often sitting in the same spot for hours on end, that help him to capture his amazing images.

“There is unbelievable satisfaction when you sit for hours and an animal or bird you have been waiting on turns up. Even more so when you travel and sleep overnight in a van and you get unbelievable wildlife pictures of birds and animals that are on the island of Ireland that some people will never take the time to see or will never see,” he explained.

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Desmond said wildlife has always been his favourite subject to photograph.

“There is so much hidden wildlife from the view of the human eye. I have put a lot of dedication into getting the photographs that I have. In some cases it can take me weeks to get the right picture that I have been wanting. Even in some cases I have kept trying for several years to get the perfect picture.”

ABOVE: Desmond captured this amazing image of a Kingfisher hunting 

The Limavady man, who is also a renowned sports photographer, said there is so much wildlife in our country and the majority of people don’t appreciate it.

“I love sitting in the forest on my own just listening to the song of the wild. It's the best thing for my mental health. It is great self-care. It is my time as I say. The North of Ireland is so beautiful all it takes is time to discover it.”

Desmond has a number of tips for any budding photographers out there.

He stressed the importance of getting to know your camera and when it comes to wildlife photography,
Desmond said it is 'patience that is key'.

Desmond said he started off his career with a camera that cost him £100.
“I was lucky I started off doing some sport coverage for the County Derry Post,” he said.

“In sport photography everyone loves to see their picture in the paper. They create happy memories for people that they carry around forever.

“I now do international sport coverage in England, Scotland and on the Island of Ireland. Photography is a hobby that I am now getting paid for so I am lucky in that sense. I got there through patience and dedication but the most important thing is to enjoy it. With today’s technology if you get it wrong you can always delete and start again, not like the film days s don’t give up,” he added.

You can find Desmond Loughery on Facebook and Instagram @desmondloughery.dl