Brian Hampton

About: News

December 2010 News

Africa Book, "Captured," is Now Available

The first of a series of five books that Brian is working on is now available. The book entitled Captured, features his best images of African wildlife. Brian's goal is to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife preservation, especially in our next generation. He encourages all of us to look closely at wildlife around us as a way to learn how to better coexist with nature and all of those around us. The remaining books: Everglades, Alaska, Yellowstone and Ocean will be published over the next couple of years. Captured is available to qualified not for profit organizations to raise money for their cause. The minimum bid will be $2,000 USD. The entire set of five will be available in 2012, complete with a display box. The books are large format (about 18 inches square), open to 36 inches wide and utilize the highest quality photo printing available. Contact Brian Hampton if you would like to explore the possible use of the book or books for a qualified charity: Brian@BrianHamptonPhotography.com or 1.888.800.6262.

Everglades Project

Brian’s next book will feature photography from the Florida Everglades. He is hard at work adding to his already extensive collection of images. Brian’s quest takes viewers deep into this region for a very up close and personal experience with the wildlife in this unique area.

The Everglades is home to more than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals and 50 reptile species. Fifteen endangered species make their home in the Everglades including the American crocodile and the Florida panther. Sadly, fifty percent of the area’s early wetland areas no longer exist. Populations of wading birds have been reduced by ninety percent. Whole populations of animals are in danger of disappearing. The endangered creatures in particular danger include the manatee, the Miami blackhead snake, the wood stork and the Florida panther. It is estimated that fewer than 100 panthers still exist.

It is through photography, that Brian hopes to bring awareness to the importance of preservation activities in the Everglades and all wildlife areas. Visit the “Everglades” gallery on the website to view a collection of images

Summer 2010 News Highlights

The current issue of Northwest Quarterly features an article about Donna and Brian visiting the Gorillas in Rwanda. The Northwest Quarterly is a regional northern Illinois Magazine.

The LexJet blog features a post about Brian's experience with their new proprietary paper for printing. View the article here.

Gulf Shore magazine is using one of Brian's images in the current issue. Gulf Shore magazine is a Naples area publication.

The first photo book in a planned series of five is now available. The book features images of Africa. A copy of the book can be yours by making a donation to one of Brian's favorite charities. Check the website soon for more details or contact Brian.

Brian and Donna will be presenting to girl scouts and boy scouts in July. The goal of the presentation is to introduce young people (8, 9 and 10 years old) to wildlife and the preservation of wildlife world wide.

Donna and Brian will travel to Africa once again in August/September. This trip will take them to Zambia to photograph African Elephants in the water and coming out of the water. Be sure to check the site for images from this trip.

11/27/2008 - Brian Hampton featured in Rockford Register Star

Read the story here:

http://www.rrstar.com/belvidere/x415856300/With-a-click-photographer-wins-top-prize

10/29/2008 -Brian Hampton wins Grand Prize in International Wildlife Photography Competition

Work to be Featured in Nature’s Best Photography Magazine and Smithsonian Museum Exhibit

Brian Hampton’s "Lion Crossing the River" image was selected from over 22,000 entries as the grand prize category winner of the prestigious Windland Smith Rice International Awards from Nature's Best Photography Magazine.

The award-winning photograph will be published in Nature’s Best 2008 Fall Awards Special Collector's Edition, due out mid-November. The winning photograph will also be featured in the annual exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, running from mid-November through April 2009. In addition, the Nature’s Best Photography Awards will be displayed in galleries on AOL Pixcetera and MSNBC.

“Lion Crossing the River” was taken in the Okavongo Delta, Botswana. The Delta floods seasonally forming a permanent source of water in the midst of arid habitats. This unique region supports one of the richest faunas in southern Africa. Lions have adapted to the wetlands as they travel through the constantly changing environment to stalk their prey. In order to join other lions tracking a herd of buffalo this lion needed to cross a treacherous crocodile infested river. “I had to reposition myself several times to try to anticipate where the lion might come through the river," explains Hampton. "I had the good fortune to have my 600mm lens trained on the lion’s eye as she exploded into a run, splashing through the shallow river. My two companions and I huddled with fear as the lion passed us by.”

Information about Nature’s Best Photography Magazine and the Windland Smith Rice International Award competition is available at: http://www.naturesbestmagazine.com/

8/20/2008 - Brian Hampton Finalist in Nature's Best Photography Competition

Four of Brian Hampton’s images made it to the finals for two categories of the prestigious Windland Smith Rice International Awards from Nature's Best Magazine. The images that qualified as finalists are: Displaying Egret, Lioness with Cubs, Crocodile Lion and Buffalo Sunset. Final Results will be announced soon. The winning images will be featured in the Fall Collector's Edition of Nature's Best Photography magazine. Check back soon for details.

May 2008 - Homewood Suites in Jackson Wyoming fills their lobby with images taken by Brian Hampton in Wyoming

1/12/2008 - Brian exhibits at Giovanni's restaurant and banquet facility in Rockford, Illinois

Brian Hampton's new exhibit, “Africa, Wild and Free,” will be on display at Giovanni's restaurant beginning mid-January. The exhibit will showcase a variety of photographs taken over the past two years during four journeys to Africa including images from his most recent trip to Namibia. Giovanni's is located at 610 North Bell School Rd, Rockford, IL 61107. The exhibit will be on display for approximately two months. Stop by and check it out!

About the exhibit: Over the past two years and four separate journeys, photographer Brian Hampton has traversed the lands of Africa to capture this country’s unique wildlife in its natural habitat. From the plains of the Serengeti and Tanzania to the reserves of South Africa and Botswana and most recently the deserts of Namibia, Mr. Hampton brings an up close and personal experience of African wildlife through images that are vivid, larger than life and truly memorable.

1/11/2008 - Brian Returns from Namibia: Photographs Rare and Protected Black Rhino

Brian Hampton recently returned from a photography trip to Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Namibia is home to the last 22 Black Rhinos existing in the wild Brian had the rare opportunity to photograph the animals.

The Black Rhinos in Namibia were born in the wild and are protected from human contact. A team of people hired by the government and the Save the Rhino Foundation carefully protect the Rhinos. "We were only allowed a carefully coordinated approach to a few of them by the 'trackers' in charge of protecting them," explains Brian, "We had just one opportunity in three days of trying to get close enough to photograph. I was asked me to put my camera in a 'silent mode' or, if that wasn't available, to only take a photo when the Rhino had its ears turned away from us. Then, we only were allowed a very short time before they requested that we leave the area. They are very serious about preventing any unpleasant human contact with these twenty-two Rhinos in the wild."

Look for photos from Namibia on the website soon.

11/10/2007 - Hampton's Eagle Print Appreciated by Japanese Ambassador

In a letter from Japanese Ambassador Kato to Mr. Hampton, Kato expresses his gratitude for a photograph presented as a gift during a recent visit to Illinois. The eagle image, taken on a farm west of Rockford, Illinois can also be found in Brian's Illinois gallery: "Food for the Nest 8392."

11/8/2007 - Brian Hampton Featured Artist in LexJet November newsletter

Read the newsletter article here: http://www.lexjet.com/lexjet/newsletter/2007/November_InFocus/ArtistSpotlight.asp

10/9/2007 - Brian to attend Travel Channel “Boot Camp”

Brian Hampton, along with his film-making partner and wife, Donna, will be attending a workshop, entitled, "Travel Channel Academy," in the Washington D.C. area. This four days intensive training course offers film-making hobbyists and students information on how they can provide material for the Travel Channel. The Travel Channel is experiencing a surge in demand and are looking for independents to contribute footage of HD video and images. The Travel Channel is the only television network devoted exclusively to travel entertainment and is a dedicated and trusted window on the world, bringing knowledge, insight and information to a community of people who want to experience their world and satisfy their curiosity.

10/8/2007 - National Wildlife Support Reception

Brian and Donna Hampton have been invited by Congressman Don Manzullo to attend a reception at the Cannon building in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, October 10th. The reception will recognize the congressmen and women that approved a bill for supporting U.S. National Wildlife Parks.

9/10/2007 - Brian Hampton Photography Open House

Brian Hampton Photography will be hosting an Open House Gallery Showing on September 22nd from 4-9pm. The showing will take place at 4201 Galleria Drive in Loves Park, IL. Refreshments will be served.

9/9/2007 - Brian Hampton to be featured in PhotoMedia Magazine

Brian Hampton's image, Crocodile Lion, will be featured in the fall 2007 issue of PhotoMedia Magazine. This issue is also the publication's 20th anniversary issue. Be sure to check it out!

4/26/2007 - Photograph wins EPI Award

Brian Hampton's image, Crocodile and Lion, was selected to participate in the 2007 Environmental Photography Invitational gallery show. The event promotes the advancement of photography as a method to bring environmental awareness and preservation through art. Brian’s image, along with other winners in the competition, are being shown at the Art Wolfe studio in Seattle, WA beginning May 18th.

4/19/2007 - Brian Hampton's images utilized by Xerox at AIIM

Several of Brian Hampton's images were printed on Xerox equipment at the AIIM show in Boston to demonstrate the capabilities of their printing technology. AIIM is a premier event for Enterprise Content & Information Management.

3/21/2007 - Photo of the Week Award - Phase One

Phase One selects Brian Hampton's image "Crocodile Lion" for its Photo of the week. www.PhaseOne.com

3/7/2007 - Xerox selects images to print on their new iGen3 printer at PMA Las Vegas

Xerox has selected several of Brian Hampton's photographs to showcase the abilities of their new printer, the iGen3, at the 2007 PMA show in Las Vegas. The images featured are part of Brian Hampton's Botswana collection.

"The combination of using great Canon equipment and placing ourselves in wonderful locations has resulted in Xerox choosing some images," states photographer Brian Hampton, "I am thrilled I that Xerox will be printing and handing these images out at such a high-profile and well recognized event in the photography industry."

Xerox also plans to feature the images in four other shows this year; including one in Germany.