Photos: Atmospheric shots of rare breeds
Student Claire Watson is documenting rare breeds of farm animals and poultry as part of her photography degree.
“I have always been passionate about animals, so when I became interested in photography I decided to combine the two to specialise in animal portraiture,” she says.
Her aim in the final-year work, which has also seen her conduct interviews with rare breed owners and commercial farmers, is to document breeds, creating a visual archive and aid understanding of why rare breeds should be sustained.
See also: How a dairy farm diversified into an artist’s muse
Claire has captured the images in a natural environment and as studio portraits – photographing a range, including a Suffolk Punch horse, a Scott Dumpy Bantam chicken and a Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep.
“Hopefully these atmospheric, artistic, classical portraits of these animals will emphasise their beauty and noble presence to a wider audience. I want the direct gazes of these animals to inspire people and encourage them to help protect and conserve rare breeds for the future.”
Find more information about the work and where it can be seen