Mohammad Murad

Mohammad Murad's story is a prime example of how it is never too late to find your passion. The wildlife photographer only started his professional career in 2015, aged 39, but in just eight years, he has built a reputation as one of the best photographers in Kuwait and beyond.

"Nobody knew me before 2015," says Mohammad. "I was a regular guy, I took my kids to school, I went to work. But now people know me because I love what I do."

After joining the Bird Monitoring and Protection Team at the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, Mohammad learnt how to find certain species and discovered how to anticipate animal behaviour. "The team really opened my eyes," he says. "They took me to places I had never been to before. When I finished work, I would take my camera and go to the desert, eat dinner there, and then come back late at night. Understanding the species that I am photographing has made my life so much easier."

Today, Mohammad is renowned for his dedication to his craft and a distinctive slow shutter style, which he combines with 'intentional camera movement'. "It's quite unique, so many photographers are afraid because they don't want to miss a shot," he says. "I always say I would rather miss a shot and take a unique picture than have the same picture that everyone else has."

His spectacular images of the Arabian red fox – captured using his signature style – have garnered international acclaim, and Mohammad has clinched several international wins at photography competitions including MontPhoto in Spain, and the Maria Luisa Photo and Video contest in Italy. "I followed two families of Arabian red foxes in 2017 for several months," he says. "I started photographing from when they were small cubs to when they were fully grown. The background is colourful bokeh showing the city of Kuwait. I remember one guy calling me from Europe to say I was the fox whisperer because of those shots. It felt great to be recognised in that way."

But for Mohammad, the fact that his children are proud of what he does is more satisfying than any award win. "I was an ordinary family guy," he says. "When an article was written about me, my daughters came home from school and said, 'We read about you in the newspaper'. At school, they were showing all their friends and saying, 'This is my dad, this is my father'. They asked me to pick them up from school that week and were introducing me to their friends. For me, that was the proudest moment I've had."

What's the most challenging element of wildlife photography?

"You must be very patient. This isn't like photographing humans; animals will do what they want. I have often travelled two hours from my home, stayed all day, and come back with nothing. This can go on for months. You also have to be tough. In Kuwait, the temperature can go up to 50°C and it's like sitting inside an oven. You must be able to handle this stuff. The desert is so hot, and a breeze will destroy your sensor because of all the dust and dirt. My most challenging aspect is the temperature and dust – we have eight sandstorms a month in Kuwait. Also, you have to accept and respect nature. Never bother an animal – photographers will know if you have stressed out an animal; we can recognise it in the behaviour of animals in images."

What's your most memorable wildlife experience?

"I recently travelled to Iceland with some other photographers, a trip which was six months in the making. I bought everything from outside Kuwait because we don't have clothes for those temperatures here. I prepared for the snow. I didn't want anything to challenge me, so I was well prepared, but then my bag was lost on the flight. The other photographers kindly lent me clothing, but it wasn't as good, understandably, because they needed their best kit too! My toes were freezing cold, and I couldn't go as far. I couldn't lie on my front for as long to get the shots, I had to stay closer to the hut. On the plus side, I got different shots to everyone else. With all this happening, it was the most exciting trip for me because of the warmth I received from the other photographers. The location is like heaven – unlike anything I've ever seen before – and I was overawed by everything."

What advice do you have for photographers wishing to follow in your footsteps?

"Start with gear you can afford. If you can't afford it, rent it. If you can't rent it, borrow it from friends or colleagues. When you start out in any hobby or job, if you feel like you are starting to make small achievements, people will notice you. If you love it and think you can do it, go for it. Don't be afraid to talk to people who inspire you. Stick to what you know. Just work, work, work, and things will come around. I know it's stressful now with social media – everyone wants to be recognised immediately, but it takes time."

What ambitions do you have that remain unfulfilled?

"I would love to teach, especially because we have very few resources in Arabic. If someone's English is not very good, they can't find what they need. I would like to teach non-English speaking people about photography, wildlife photography, the environment – everything I do. If I can translate that into Arabic and teach people about what I know, especially how to do wildlife photography in an artistic way, that would be great."

"Never lose hope. There's always a second chance, if something goes wrong. Believe there is another shot coming, even if it takes longer than you expected. I always say to my kids 'don't lose hope, there is always another day, you can achieve so much'. Young people have lots of time to do lots of good things for themselves, for their families, for the world in general. And I started late in all this – so I'd say never lose hope."

Facebook: Mohammad Murad

Instagram: @moe_murad

Website: mohammadmurad.com