Westcountry Animal Magic, by
Richard Austin
Publishers: Halsgrove
Price: £12.95
Contact: 01884 243 242
South West photographer Richard Austin has produced a book which has the "aaah" factor bursting out of each and every page.
Richard is best known in Devon for his photos of animals which appear in the regional morning newspaper, the Western Morning News.
 | | Pups in Boots... |
He has, in fact, seen his pictures published in newspapers and magazines right around the world...and it's not hard to see why.
He always seems able to get the animals - no matter WHAT animals they are - to look directly at the camera.
Much of his work features animals which don't normally get on, but co-operate beautifully to have their pictures taken together. There's the little kitten with a big dog, a cat with a cow, a badger with an alsation, a ginger cat and a tiny hedgehog...to name just a few examples.
 | | Taking a rest...a puma cub |
Some of his bird photos are also a joy...Richard captures them at the key moments: as they enter a river head first; as their wingspans are out at their fullest extent (like one picture of a snowy owl in flight), and as a gosling goes "nose to nose" with a ginger tom.
And then there are the wild animals, who have been photographed at zoos in the South West - a favourite is a hand reared puma cub at the Dartmoor Wildlife Park.
These are fantastic nature pictures...many of them are taken in the countryside of the South West.
 | | Spiky babies: two tiny hedgehogs "smile" for the camera |
There are over 100 colour photos in this 144-page hard-backed book.
Richard has put a caption to all of them, so we know something of the story behind them. He even reveals some secrets on how he captured the pictures.
They originally appeared in publications, but this is the first time that the best of Richard's work has been brought together in one collection.
It's a must for animal lovers, and for those who appreciate nature photography.
All photos used with the permission of the publishers | 
