Incredibly intimate portraits of wild animals taken by the boy next door

A TALENTED photographer has turned Melbourne Zoo into his second home, capturing remarkably intimate portraits of his near neighbours.

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A TALENTED Australian photographer has turned Melbourne Zoo into his second home, and over multiple visits has captured remarkably intimate portraits of his near neighbours.

"I live a few kilometres from the zoo and have always been hugely fascinated by the magnificent animals who call it home" says photographer Arthur Xanthopoulos.

"Now I have annual membership and visit more than thirty times a year."

Australian photographer Arthur Xanthopoulos has turned Melbourne Zoo into his second home, and over multiple visits has captured remarkably intimate portraits of his near neighbours. Picture: Supplied

Although his shots of orang-utans, gorillas and tigers look like they were shot in a studio, the stunning photos were actually taken from the same vantage points all zoo visitors enjoy.

Employing organisational skills and reserves of patience typically found in cameramen working for the BBC Natural History unit, Xanthopoulos visits the zoo with a particular animal and shot in mind, then sits on stakeout for as many hours as are necessary to capture it.

Arthur Xanthopoulos has turned Melbourne Zoo into his second home, and over multiple visits has captured remarkably intimate portraits of his near neighbours. Picture: Supplied

He only visits the zoo on cloudy days to avoid glare, and carefully composes his photos against dark backgrounds to give the impression he has the animal to himself.

Arthur Xanthopoulos has turned Melbourne Zoo into his second home, and over multiple visits has captured remarkably intimate portraits of his near neighbours. Picture: Supplied

"I try to visit during feeding times in the morning, when most animals are their most active."

"I go out with a specific goal in mind, but I'm also always aware that photo opportunities may present themselves. I'm always looking for something unique that I haven't captured before. But there have certainly been times when I've been at the zoo for hours without taking a shot."

"Over many visits I started to understand various animals' usual movements within their enclosure. These patterns allowed me to capture a particular moment. Pre-visualisation of the end result has really helped me in my efforts to capture something unusual with each animal."

"The key thing I try and do from a technical point of view is to underexpose my images, then I can go back and highlight the subject matter in post-production process."

Arthur Xanthopoulos has turned Melbourne Zoo into his second home, and over multiple visits has captured remarkably intimate portraits of his near neighbours. Picture: Supplied

A master retoucher as well as a skilled photographer, by avoiding shooting in direct sunlight, Mr Xanthopoulos reduces work for himself when he later plays with the images in post-production.

Showing tigers prowling, lions yawning and a gorilla staring down the cameras lens, these shots take us up close and personal with some of nature's most striking creatures.

Mr Xanthopoulos won international acclaim for his photo essays, with the images appearing in the UK's Sunday Times Magazine and publications across Europe and the USA.

"When people look at my images I hope they will understand how much we have in common with primates," said Mr Xanthopoulos. Does the photographer have a favourite species?

"I've always loved the orang-utan, they photograph very well and are very personable. They're interesting and intensely interested in the visitors as much as we are interested in them."

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