OVER the decades he has made his living as a wildlife photographer Colin Varndell has proved time and time again he has what it takes to elevate the common to the extraordinary.

His secret, he says, is patience and keeping things simple.

Mr Varndell said: “I believe that the secret to successful photography lies in simplicity and patience, keeping pictures as uncomplicated as possible and waiting for that special moment.”

And there have been many of those ‘special moments’ many of which have won him national and international awards, as well as gracing the pages of prestigious books and magazines.

Where he can Mr Varndell studies the wildlife close to his Netherbury home or when he has to further afield in the county.

Partly through necessity and partly because of a passionate interest in his subject his knowledge of the natural world has grown and it is one of the reasons he is in such high demand to give his illustrated talks.

Thanks to his generosity we are able to share Mr Varndell’s ‘special moments’ of 2013.

See more of Mr Varndell’s photos on facebook at Colin Varndell Natural History Photography.