New Forest photographer Luke Parkinson, from Pilley, nominated in Fine Art Photography Awards for badger pic taken near Fordingbridge

A NEW Forest photographer has been given a global honour for his snap of a curious badger.

The stunning pic, which featured on the front page of the A&T in February, was taken near Fordingbridge by Pilley-based Luke Parkinson, who said he waited for hours for the creature to appear.

Now it has been nominated in the wildlife section of the international Fine Art Photography Awards.

He said: “It was a real achievement to be nominated, the quality of work is outstanding.

“I was nominated in the 2021 awards with two images, but this year only entered the badger and still managed to be nominated.”

The 29-year-old said he received “many lovely messages” after the picture was published in the A&T.

He started out at the age of eight taking pictures of a kingfisher on the pond in his Forest village using “an old 35mm camera and 18-55mm lens”.

“The disappointment was clear, when all you could see is a blue speck in the middle of a 6x4 print,” he recalled.

“Fast forward a few years, after starting work at an early age, I saved up for a DSLR and cheapest telephoto zoom lens I could afford.

“The determination resulted in being shortlisted in both the UK British Wildlife Photography Awards and Worldwide Young Wildlife Photographer of The Year 2012.”

In 2018 Luke was runner-up in the Worldwide Guild of Photographers Equine Image of the Year, and last year was awarded Bronze Equestrian Photographer of the Year 2023.

On snapping the badger, he said: “The image was taken on a Saturday night/Sunday morning, and I drove to the small hide in Fordingbridge.

“It was an incredible set up, with a reflection pool in front and lights surrounding. All we had to do was wait for this magnificent animal to appear. After many hours, it did!”