Nature from Mark D Phillips

While working at the now defunct Tampa Tribune in the 1980s, I began a love of photographing animals that has carried through my entire career.

You wouldn’t think of Tampa as a wildlife center, but it really was. With Busch Gardens Tampa and the start of Lowry Park Zoo, there were more exotic animals to be photographed than In most African game parks. I latched on to every animal assignment I could get. When Busch Gardens hosted Ling Ling, a Panda on loan from the Chinese government, I was able to photograph both his arrival and birthday party. The feed truck at Busch Gardens gave me one of my all-time favorite animal photographs of three giraffes.

But my crowning glory in Tampa was documenting the building and opening of Lowry Park Zoo, a natural habitat construction replacing the Zoo for the City of Tampa. During this period I learned more about wildlife than I ever thought possible. Watching and being a part of the move of a Bengal Tiger from its cage to a natural habitat was something that few have had the honor of sharing. When you see one of these majestic animals up close, there is nothing like it.

Tampa led to two trips to Africa and more nature photography.

There is exceptional beauty in our world. Much of my new work is abstract or long lens views of our natural world. Much of my work revolves around water. This summer I had one of my greatest encounters with whales on a fishing trip that took us well east of Montauk, New York, in the Atlantic Ocean. The beauty of the Earth is all around us.

More Galleries:

Portfolio: Gowanus Canal • Portfolio: Jay Cochrane • Portfolio: New Work • Portfolio: Sports • Portfolio:
Space • Portfolio: Animals• Portfolio: Nature