MARK A FERNLEY IN THE FIELD
Below is a glimpse into the journeys, encounters and experiences that have shaped the work of British wildlife photographer Mark A. Fernley. Over the years, Mark has travelled extensively across the African continent and into some of the world’s most remarkable natural environments, driven by a deep fascination with wildlife, remote landscapes and the relationship between people and the natural world.
His work has taken him far beyond the traditional wildlife photography experience. From spending time in some of Africa’s great wilderness areas to working in remote regions, photographing wildlife after dark and documenting communities whose traditions remain closely connected to the land, exploration has always been at the heart of Mark’s approach.
Rather than simply seeking the obvious photograph, Mark is drawn to experiences that require patience, observation and a willingness to work differently. Whether photographing predators from purpose-built hides through the night, working at ground level to create a more intimate perspective, or spending extended periods observing the behaviour of a single animal, his photography is built around understanding the subject and the environment in which it lives.
Africa has played an especially important role in Mark’s photographic journey. Its vast landscapes, extraordinary wildlife and remaining wilderness have provided the setting for many of his most recognised images and have continually pushed him to explore new ways of portraying the natural world. His work has subsequently appeared in major international publications and productions, while his distinctive approach to wildlife photography has received recognition within the photographic world.
At the centre of it all remains the same curiosity that first drew Mark into the wild: the desire to explore, to understand and to experience places that still retain a genuine sense of wilderness. The photographs presented here offer only a small window into that journey, revealing a body of work shaped not only by the animals in front of the camera, but by years spent travelling, observing and immersing himself in some of the planet’s most extraordinary wild places.
As part of Mark’s wider fascination with the natural world, remote places and traditional cultures, his journeys through Africa have always extended beyond wildlife alone. Together with his wife, Jaren, he developed a deep appreciation for the people, traditions and communities they encountered along the way, with the Maasai of East Africa becoming particularly meaningful to them.
On 24 August 2023, Mark and Jaren celebrated their marriage in the Masai Mara, Kenya, through a traditional Maasai wedding ceremony. Surrounded by the landscapes that had already become such an important part of their lives, they were welcomed into a deeply personal and culturally significant celebration filled with song, dance, blessing and tradition.
For Mark and Jaren, the experience represented far more than an unusual wedding ceremony. It brought together their love for one another with their shared connection to Africa and their respect for the cultures they had come to know through years of travelling and working across the continent.
The ceremony remains one of the most memorable chapters of their lives in Africa, a celebration of marriage, culture and connection in one of the places that has influenced both their personal lives and photographic journeys so profoundly.
