Pui Hang Miles hails from Kent, United Kingdom. As a wildlife photographer Pui Hang says it’s all about capturing emotion.

THE SHOOT

Where did you grow up?
Surrey, UK.

How long have you been a professional photographer?
I would never call myself a professional photographer. I have however, been doing photography for just over 4 years.

What did you do before you were a professional photographer?
I managed people before I got into photography.

Whats the best part about being a photographer?
Learning about our natural world and meeting like minded people.

How do you keep yourself motivated and your photography fresh?
How can you not be motivated when living on such an amazing planet with so much wonder to capture? My interest in wildlife and its conservation, fuels my motivation, which in turn pushes me to find new ways to depict what I see so I can share it with a wider audience.

‘Ele Love’ – I love this image because it captures an intimate and tender moment between an elephant calf and it’s slightly older sister. It’s especially poignant today because elephants are seriously endangered and if we don’t take action now, wild elephants will be extinct as early as 2025.

Who or what inspires you in your work?
My husband (also a wildlife photographer) who sees things with completely different eyes and the wildlife I see all around me. Their ability to adapt and survive in the face of adversity inspires me, commands my respect and demands that I tell their story in my images.

What do you look for behind the lens, that is, what catches your eye and compels you take the shot?
Something different that no one else has captured. Something of their behaviour that shows off their nature. It has to tell a story as, an image with no story, has no soul.

What type of cameras do you shoot with?
Canon 1Dx. I’ve always shot with Canon but the 1Dx is the only camera I’ve owned that has survived the extreme weather conditions I frequently find myself shooting in. Example. Back in February, I went to Japan as I wanted to photograph the Steller Sea Eagles on drift ice. I had 2 cameras on tripods – a Canon 60D and my 1Dx. It was -40 with the wind chill on the drift ice and the 60D packed up within 5 minutes. My 1Dx kept shooting for the 3 hours we were out although I did have to frequently chip the thin ice off my dial in order to check my images!

What is your favourite accessory, other than your camera?
My iPad.

What is your favourite editing accessory?
Aperture. Although I will be migrating to Lightroom soon.

Mac or PC?
Do they still make PCs???

‘I think I need a shave’ – I just love the expression on this Snow Monkey’s face – it’s so expressive! This was taken in Japan earlier this year. The pool is a hot spring where the macaques go to for their “onsen” after a hard day foraging and playing in the snow.

The hardest part of your job?
Packing. I loathe packing. Whether it’s for a trip within the UK or abroad, packing is the bane of my life! The camera gear is easy but how much clothing I should take is always an issue, especially if it is a cold weather trip as I need to be able to move. When dressed like a michelin man, it’s not easy.

What piece of kit would you most like to get but don’t have yet?
If you’d asked me that last week, I would have said the Canon 200-400mm with built in 1.4x extender. However, that arrived just the other day 🙂

If not a photographer what would you have been?
Piano teacher. Since taking up photography, my piano has been severely neglected!

Something you’re still learning?
How to pack well.

‘Take Away Lunch’ – I love this image because it’s captured a moment in time – a kingfisher emerging from the river with a fish in it’s mouth. The movement in the wings and the water drops convey the speed at which this bird streaked out of the water. Not an easy shot to capture.

What advice do you have for photographers just starting out?
Keep taking pictures. Don’t be disheartened if someone doesn’t like your image. There is no such thing as a bad image – if you are happy and like the image you have taken, then it is good. Also, if you see someone with a better camera than you, don’t think they are a better photographer. That’s like saying Leonardo da Vinci was a great painter because he had amazing paintbrushes.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for a tango photographer?
Getting sharp motion images in low light conditions. However, this challenge is not limited to tango photography. Knowing how to use the camera you have in your hand will help enormously.

What would you like to get out of the Tangofolly Project?
Meeting like-minded photographers, sharing tips and tricks. No matter how much you think you know, there’s always something to learn. And if I can inspire people to come on one of our trips, so much the better!