Welcome to Jan Captures Nature

My Passion for Photography Started Early

My fascination with capturing moments began way back when I was barely past a teenager. However, being immensely quiet at the time, I missed out on traditional night school courses because they were predominantly male-dominated environments.

Building Confidence and Credentials

As the years passed, my confidence grew, and I finally decided to pursue my passion formally. I attended St Helens College, learning the foundational arts of photography using a traditional Pentax film camera. During my college studies, I spent hours in the darkroom learning the hands-on art of developing negatives and printing my own physical photographs. I went on to achieve a Grade A in GCSE Photography, followed by Distinctions in City & Guilds.

Transitioning to the Digital Era

It was a while later when I transitioned from film to digital cameras. Embracing this new technology allowed me to expand my craft even further, leading me to master digital tools like Photoshop and Lightroom while keeping my core, traditional understanding of light and composition alive.

Never Stop Learning

To build upon my college education, I have spent years continuously sharpening my skills through specialized workshops, covering:

• Technical Mastery: Advanced Photoshop & Lightroom editing
• Lighting & Technique: Speedlight flash photography, portrait setups, and specialized photo walks
• Event Experience: Professional wedding photography and baby photoshoots

Rooted in the Community

Photography is a journey best shared. To bring local photography lovers together, I founded and ran the Golborne PICs (Photographers Inspiring Communities) Photography Club at the Golborne Library, helping others discover the joy of capturing the world around them.

My Loyal Walking Companions

A huge part of my inspiration comes from my love for my five dogs that I have shared my life with over the years. They have been my ultimate motivators, encouraging me to get out into the fresh air every single day. With a lead in one hand and my camera in the other, our daily walks across the beautiful UK countryside have opened my eyes to so many incredible wildlife encounters that I otherwise might have missed.

My True Love: Nature, Wildlife, & Landscapes

While I have loved capturing the joy of friends’ weddings and sweet family milestones over the years, my absolute passion lies in the great outdoors. Today, I dedicate my lens entirely to the raw beauty of UK nature, wildlife, and landscapes—capturing the moments where time stands still.

The Story Behind the Jackdaw:

While stopping for a hot drink at the Flamborough Head cafe, this striking Western Jackdaw landed on the wooden fence line right next to me. Coastal crows and jackdaws are incredibly bold but highly intelligent. I switched my Panasonic Bridge Camera to tracking mode, sat completely still with my brew, and waited for him to turn his head to catch that piercing, silver-blue eye against the weathered wood. Once he knew food was around there was no stopping him, he kept coming back for more.

I chose a black and white edit to strip away distracting colours and really emphasize the beautiful textures of his plumage and that keen, watchful eye.

My Real-World Settings:

Camera Body: Panasonic DC-FZ10002

Lens used: 26.3mm fixed camera zoom lens

Camera Mode: Shutter Priority

Shutter Speed: 1/2000s to freeze the movement

Aperture: f/3.7 to get that soft blurred background

ISO: 250

The Story Behind the Grey Seal:

The Farne Islands in Northumberland are home to one of the most important grey seal colonies in the UK. While our boat was cruising slowly past the low rocks, this beautiful seal was hauled out right on top of a thick, floating bed of kelp. The boat slowed right down so it didn’t disturb his natural peace, he relaxed completely and looked right down the lens line, showing off his calm, inquisitive expression.

The challenge in this moment was dealing with the gentle roll of the sea while keeping my lens steady at a long focal length. It takes real patience to track any animal, but when he paused and held that steady eye contact, everything else seemed to fade away. It’s those brief, connected moments that make wildlife photography so incredibly rewarding.

My Real-World Settings:

Camera Body: Canon EOS R10

Lens Used: 100-300mm kit lens

Camera Mode: Shutter Priority

Shutter Speed: 1/1000s to freeze the movement

Aperture: f/5.6 for sharp edge-to-edge detail

ISO: 400 for clean, natural coastal light

The Story Behind the Puffin:

Captured during the summer breeding season, this shot highlights a puffin on a mossy rock against the sea. A fast shutter speed was used to overcome coastal wind, while a low angle isolates the subject to highlight its features.

The Farne Islands colonies are bustling with energy during these peak summer months, making it both thrilling and challenging to pick out a single subject. It was quite a difficult shot being on a moving boat. Watching these iconic birds clumsily navigate the sea cliffs before diving into the surf is pure joy, and capturing that perfect profile amidst the crashing waves made the choppy boat ride entirely worth it.

My Real-World Settings:

Camera Body: Canon EOS R10

Lens used: 100-300mm kit lens

Camera Mode: Shutter Priority

Shutter Speed: 1/1250s to freeze movement

Aperture: f/6.3

ISO: 400