They say you should never work with animals.
But nature lover and photographer Jen Tom would disagree.
The Moira Shire resident is an avid photographer of birds and animals and has released a 2024 calender featuring some of her best photos.
The stunning photographs featuring birds, kangaroos and stunning landscapes belie the fact Ms Tom is relatively new to photography, only starting out because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was sitting at home looking at the garden, seeing a lot of birds and thought it would be lovely to take photos of them. I’ve always loved birds,’’ she said.
Her husband gifted her a powerful Nikon camera with a Sigma lens which could focus on objects 600m away.
Photography is therapeutic for Ms Tom.
“I just enjoy it. I think it’s healing, and I think if I go for a walk, I take the camera, and even if I haven’t got a good photo, I’ve had a nice walk,” she said.
The uncertainty of her photography adventures is part of the drawcard for Ms Tom, who recalled walking near the Murray when an echidna came out of nowhere to drink water.
“Nature’s wondrous,” Ms Tom said.
Asked what makes a good nature photographer, Ms Tom said it was a mixture of luck and technical skill.
“It’s about composing a photo and being lucky to get the bird or the animal doing whatever it is at the right time,” she said.
Ms Tom’s photography passion has taken her as far afield as the Western Australian coastline and down to islands off the coast of Tasmania.
She said taking nature photographs required early wake-up calls and some prior planning.
“(You have to) be out early in the morning and the golden hours, which is just after sunrise. Be patient. Don’t forget to carry a spare battery,” Ms Tom said.
Though taking the photographs for the calendar wasn’t an easy process, Ms Tom intends to give any money she makes from the calendar to a cause close to her heart.
“Any money above what the cost of printing is I’m giving to BirdLife Australia,” she said.
For Ms Tom her dream is to travel to the Caribbean to take a photo of one particular animal.
“I’d love to go and see a tufted coquette hummingbird,” she said.
Asked what advice she’d give to anyone considering photography, Ms Tom said it was a worthwhile hobby.
“I’d say it’s wonderful, do it for sure,” Ms Tom said.
“It’s very enjoyable. And with digital photography, you don’t have to wait for prints to come.”
The calendars, printed in superb quality by Cobram’s very own MV Printers, are available for $25 from Cobram Veterinary Clinic and Shear Kaos.