Lewis Burnett is an award-winning wildlife and travel photographer based out of Australia's South-West. Originally from Scotland, he was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by the rolling hills and forests that the country is famous for, planting the seed young for a life lived in nature. His teenage years were spent in Australia's stunning South-West, nurturing his love for all things salty and wild. Since finishing university in 2015 he has spent his time exploring the far-flung corners of the world in search for his version of paradise.

Lewis believes that our society has lost the vital connection with the natural world that allows us to not just survive on this crazy planet, but thrive. He hopes that by capturing the endless beauty that nature has to offer he will inspire people to live a more simple, happy and environmentally conscious life.

What is a typical day like for you?

Well like everyone this last year or so it’s been a little different... but pre covid I have spent the last couple years working as a travel/wildlife photographer or adventure/wildlife tour guide. I'm not at the stage yet where photography is a full-time income so I like to work a season as a guide, exploring a new part of Australia, sharing my love of the natural world with guests. Then once I've saved enough pennies I head off around the world to wherever is next on my list of places to photograph. This will change as time goes on and my contacts grow and my need to work as a guide will be less and less.... hopefully.

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What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?

I was lucky enough to have a very free childhood, it’s a privilege that I don't take lightly. Exploring the forests and mountains of Scotland from a young age allowed my love for nature to grow into me eventually choosing to work help conserve it. I feel like unstructured, creative, nature play is so integral in a child's life to help them develop their own curiosities for the natural world. It's these curiosities that develop at a young age that eventually blossom into passions as an adult.

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What/who currently inspires you?

The list of conservation photographers is too long to write down and nothing that a quick google search wouldn't turn up. But the people that inspire me are the countless humans working on the frontline of conservation that are dedicating their lives to help protect the last remaining wild places left on this planet. I have spent the last couple years refining my skills as a photographer, now I feel like its time to put those skills to use.

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What path did you choose after leaving school?

Unfortunately due to pressures from my immediate family, I took the traditional path of University. I hated most of it but thankfully managed to graduate with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Applied Geology. It took me just over 6 months of saving after finishing uni to fund my first backpacking trip through South-East Asia and I haven't looked back!

What do you value most in life?

The natural world. I used to say freedom, but as I've grown a little older I've come to realize that I only feel true, unbounded freedom when in the presence of the majesty that is the natural world.

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What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?

I believe that most people in our society have lost touch with the natural world. They see it on TV, with David Attenborough's voice narrating the most amazing scenes on the planet, but to most people, the natural world is something that stays there.... on TV I really hope that by bringing back these images of the natural world to people and by showing them that it is more easily accessible then they imagined, that I can change this perception and start to bridge the divide that so clearly exists between humans and the planet on which they live.

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Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?

I'd be crazy not to mention the Blue Planet/Planet Earth series... Perhaps the most visually spectacular thing I've ever seen on TV. But I do remember seeing a documentary once about people freediving with Great whites off the coast of Mexico. I remember saying to myself that they can't be that bad if these people are diving without a cage with them. Thankfully I managed to fulfil a lifetime dream of mine by freediving with one off the West Australian coast back in 2019.

What brings you the most joy?

Again this has changed slightly over time too. It used to be experiencing the beauty of nature or interacting with wild animals in a respectful and sentient way. But now it would for sure be watching other people do that for the first time... There is honestly nothing more lifechanging than swimming looking into the eye of a 15m whale underwater and seeing people do this for the first time, watching their entire perception of the natural world shift in just one moment, that’s special!

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What legacy do you hope to leave?

I have to aim high here. I'd say if I could contribute to the movement of people helping change the general population’s opinion on the natural world then I've done ok. Humanity as a whole is at a point where we need to decide what it is that we really value... Is it GDP, Capitalism, The exploitation of the natural world for profit? Or is it giving our natural world the time to heal, valuing ecology over economy...