The Photographer

My name is Deb Heath - I have lived in the village of Overton in Hampshire since 2011.  I love being out in the country; if you are quiet and observant, you are rewarded with the many and beautiful sights that the English countryside has to offer.

Overton is close to the source of the River Test, one of England's most famous chalk streams.  The river rises just to the east of the village before flowing as crystal clear water through Hampshire and out to the sea in Southampton Water. It passes through the ancient Abbey at Mottisfont, the towns of Stockbridge and Romsey and is home to some of the best fly fishing for trout in England. The river and its banks provide a perfect environment for a rich biodiversity. When I am out walking my dog Tess, I frequently encounter British wildlife which many people only get to see in magazines and on television. I have launched Test Valley Wildlife as a way of sharing these encounters with a wider audience.

My photos regularly feature on BBC weather reports and in national and local newspapers; I won the 2018 and 2020 Simon MacCaskill Memorial Trophy for deer photography; in 2019 and 2022 I won the Wessex Branch British Deer Society Photography Competition with my close-up photo of a Muntjac; I won second prize in the 2020 and 2022 national BDS Photography Competitions. 

The Equipment

I use 2 cameras:

• I have recently switched to a Nikon Z9, normally fitted with a NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens shown in the photo above.  The telephoto lens provides great detail but I still have to work hard to get in close to my subjects, particularly deer and hare when I like to be within 10-15m.
• My backup cameras are a Nikon Z6 and a Panasonic Lumix FZ2000; the Panasonic is a compact bridge camera but capable of taking very good photographs as well as high quality 4k video. It is perfect just to sling over my shoulder when out walking.

Tess is a vital part of my equipment. She expects 2 walks a day and it is often when out with her that I get inspiration for the next photographic assignment. She has learnt the art of sitting quietly even when faced with the temptation of wildlife in very close proximity. She has also learnt to crawl with me when I am stalking up to an animal or bird.