Woolff Gallery is absolutely delighted to present this exhibition. Graeme Purdy's unique photography provides a different perspective on some of our favourite wildlife subjects by experimenting with proximity, this give us a real sense of engagement with the subjects and conveys a feeling of emotional connection when we view his large-scale works.

"It is intuitive that you want to edge closer to a subject to feel more connected but with wild animals, there are two factors we must consider. The first is that many animals can be dangerous in close proximity and the other is that most animals would prefer we stayed a ‘comfortable’ distance from them. So my goal was to capture unique images from ‘inside their world’, mostly with remote or ‘mobile’ cameras". Greame Purdy Classically printed in Black and White, and beautifully presented, Purdy’s timeless photographs are in keeping with the majesty and integrity of his inquisitive subjects. It is clear that extended periods of time were spent building sufficient trust with the animals, and the results allow us to glimpse into the personalities of the individual animals. Purdy’s book ‘EIGHT FEET’ will be available at the exhibition.

In the book, each portrait is accompanied with its own story. As Graeme explains: “It was not my original intention to provide a narrative for each image, but it felt such an injustice to try and present these animals stories with only an image. I felt these animals deserved more”. The stories written by Graeme give a moving insight into the animals behaviour and his experiences. All of the proceeds from this book go to National Park rescue (www.nationalparkrescue.com) which is a direct action charity tackling the chronic problems arising through poaching. The photographs are all framed and have a protective face mount. Alongside each image in the brochure is a short piece of text giving you a sense of what Graeme was considering whilst taking these shots.