Faversham Life
Faversham Life
Words Amicia de Moubray Photographs Robert Canis
‘I am passionate about the North Kent marshes,’ says renowned local photographer Robert Canis, who has recently published Elmley – First Light to Last: An English Wilderness. A limited edition of 750 copies, the book is a summation of his exquisite photographs of Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey taken over the last 30 years at different times of day.
Robert is one of that lucky breed who know from an early age the career they want to pursue. At seven or eight, encouraged by his parents, he began to explore the countryside around his home. By the time he was 12, he had set his heart on becoming a wildlife photographer. It was then that his mother introduced him to a neighbour, Ted Garnett, who at the time was head of security at the Shell Research Centre (now called the Kent Science Park.) ‘He was a first-rate naturalist.’ Forty years Robert’s senior, he quickly became his mentor. Brought up in Teynham – ‘pretty much on the marshes’ – he was a wildfowler turned photographer. ‘He put the gun down and picked up a camera.’
Elmley Nature Reserve, the Isle of Sheppey
Robert has Ted to thank for introducing him to Elmley – even though it was a ‘rotten wet grey windy day’. From that moment on, he was besotted with the place.
‘It is one of the last remaining wildernesses in the Southeast of England. It is the Serengeti of Sheppey.’ He lyrically described to me the profound sense of isolation, the enveloping skies, the amazing birds, the butterflies, the dragonflies and hawthorn bushes bedecked with fragrant blossom in May. ‘The scent wafts across the marshes. I would love to bottle it.’
Beechwood in autumn mist, Kent, England.
After studying photography at Paddington College School of Photography, he worked as an assistant to Sittingbourne-based photographer Melvin Sillcock. Next, he worked two or three days a week for the Faversham Times and the East Kent Gazette as a freelance photographer to supplement his income as a wildlife photographer. It proved a brilliant way of honing his knowledge and appreciation of the area. Robert says: ‘It’s not very well known even though it has some of the most beautiful English countryside, with many different areas and tidal zones – unlike Snowdonia or the Cotswolds which are so busy with double yellow lines everywhere.’
He points out that many photographers travel far and wide for pictures but 80 per cent of his work is within 15–20 minutes drive from his home near Sittingbourne. A good example is Stalisfield which feels so remote, but is just a few miles from the Swale estuary. ‘It is true North Downs country.’
Oare looking over to the Isle of Sheppey
Another favourite place is Oare, just outside Faversham. Robert likes going to Oare at four or five in the morning to watch the sun rise over the silhouettes of lapwings and avocets. ‘I love the contrast of the reed margins of the marsh, and the sea wall looking across the Swale to the Isle of Sheppey.’
Slipway at sunrise, Oare
Despite his deep love for North Kent, Robert leads an extensive range of select adventurous photographic tours to many different countries in pursuit of wildlife. For example, he visits Iceland in the winter when it is at its wildest in the grip of raging strong winds. He goes to Poland in search of bison, eagles and goshawks. Such is the popularity of his tours that there is already a waiting list for Auroras Fells and Fjords: Finnish Lapland and Norway in September 2028.
The bluebells at King’s Wood, Challock, Kent,
It is no surprise to discover that he has been the recipient of numerous photographic awards including several from the British Wildlife Photography Awards.
Do buy the book which is available at Creek Creative or Top Hat and Tales or Robert’s website: www.robertcanis.com You won’t be disappointed.
Text: Amicia de Moubray. Photography: Robert Canis
