Xposure 2026
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Simon King
SIMON KING
EPIGRAPH / DEEP QUOTE
Moving to the Outer Hebrides has inspired me to once again try to express my passion for the natural world through still imagery.
Here, the cast of natural neighbours is varied and charismatic. But it is the light, and the way it plays on the landscape, that creates the potential for the sort of capture that encapsulates the soul of the islands.
A major influence for the direction of my most recent collection stems from my love of contemporary abstract art, such as works by Mark Rothco and Fernando Velázquez, which summon in me emotions of peace, wonder and harmony.
Whenever possible, I strive to find elements within the frame that do not figuratively illustrate the world in which my subjects reside but instead lend an abstract backdrop - a wash - that harnesses the essential qualities of the Islands; the white-sand beaches that are never truly white but instead reflect the hues of the day, the distant hills that bring a pallet of lilac and aquamarine.
The wild creatures that inhabit the islands do so alongside the human residents. The agricultural practices here are still gentle enough for life to proliferate. Indeed, it is because of the way in which human beings have modified the landscape over the millennia that the rich mosaic of life can exist.
I hope that the images I capture help to celebrate this harmony and act as a klaxon call to ensure it continues into the future. Perhaps they may also serve as an inspiration to others to modify the way we have abused the natural world elsewhere.
Simon King OBE is an acclaimed wildlife filmmaker, photographer, and naturalist whose work has inspired audiences across the world to reconnect with the natural environment. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1962 and raised in Bristol, he developed a fascination with wildlife from an early age, spending countless hours exploring local woods and observing animal behaviour.
For more than forty-five years, he has shared his deep understanding of the natural world through powerful imagery and storytelling, becoming one of the most recognisable voices in wildlife broadcasting.
Simon began his career in television at the age of ten, appearing in wildlife dramas before directing his first BBC documentary, The Willow, in 1984. Since then, he has contributed to more than eighty major productions as cameraman, director, producer, and presenter. His credits include Big Cat Diary, Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Wild Africa, The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Life, The Hunt, and Wild Isles. He was also among the principal cinematographers for Disney’s cinematic feature African Cats.
His remarkable ability to capture intimate animal behaviour has earned him international acclaim, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, multiple BAFTAs, and the Royal Geographical Society’s Cherry Kearton Medal and Award. In 2010, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to wildlife camerawork and conservation. The following year, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in recognition of his contribution to wildlife imagery.
Beyond the screen, Simon has remained deeply committed to conservation, education, and authorship. In Somerset, he founded the Simon King Wildlife Project, transforming land into a thriving haven for birds, mammals, and pollinators, complete with live-streaming cameras and educational resources. His bestselling book NatureWatch draws on more than fifty years of field experience, offering insights into tracking and observing wildlife across the British Isles and Europe.
A passionate advocate for environmental responsibility, Simon encourages individuals to reflect on their impact on the planet through public speaking, media appearances, and guided wildlife-watching adventures in the UK and beyond. Since relocating to South Uist in the Outer Hebrides in 2022, the landscape and light of his island home have inspired his latest body of work, Solas Eilean (Island Light). His dedication continues to unite the artistry of filmmaking with the urgency of conservation.
• Wild Life (a memoir), Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller
• The Willow – BBC documentary (Director, 1984)
• Big Cat Diary – BBC Series (Presenter and Cinematographer)
• Planet Earth – BBC Series (Cinematographer)
• The Blue Planet – BBC Series (Cinematographer)
• African Cats – Disney Feature Film (Principal Cinematographer)
• Wild Isles – BBC Series (Contributor and Advisor alongside Sir David Attenborough)
• Solas Eilean (Island Light) – Photographic and Film Project inspired by the Outer Hebrides
