Meet the Aussie Photographer Saving Wildlife and Sending Followers’ Hearts Racing

Far North Queensland photographer Mitchell Burns has attracted tens of millions of views with breathtaking landscapes, daring animal rescues and a physique that has left social media followers able to threat the Australian wilderness.

Mitchell Burns spends his days travelling via a few of Australia’s wildest landscapes, trying to find extraordinary surroundings and memorable encounters with native animals.

For lots of his social media followers, nonetheless, the surroundings is simply a part of the attraction.

The 32-year-old Far North Queensland photographer has constructed a sizeable on-line viewers by combining his placing photos and wildlife data with an adventurous persona — and a set of impressively maintained biceps.

Burns has even been in contrast with fellow Australian wildlife pin-up Robert Irwin, though he’s fast to dismiss any suggestion that the pair occupy the identical territory.

“Yeah, it’s been brought up a few times, but the Irwin family are in a league of their own and I’m certainly not trying to be them,” Burns advised information.com.au.

“I’m just a regular bloke who cares about wildlife.”

He does concede that they share a strong enthusiasm for Australia’s pure world.

“If there’s one similarity, it’s probably the passion!” he mentioned. “They have an incredible passion for Australia’s wildlife, and I have that same dedication to showcasing Australia’s wild places, landscapes and animals through photography.”

From the Coal Mines to the Camera

Burns’ relationship with nature started throughout his rural Queensland upbringing, when encounters with snakes, lizards and different animals have been an abnormal a part of life.

Born in Mareeba, he spent a lot of his childhood and adolescence in Bluff, a small Central Queensland mining city. He entered the coal trade at 18 and spent a few decade working in mining earlier than committing to pictures full-time.

“I grew up in the country, so seeing snakes, lizards and other wildlife was just part of everyday life,” he mentioned.

“These days I use my platform to share the wildlife encounters and rescues that happen while I’m out on the road.”

Photography remained a ardour all through Burns’ mining profession, however pursuing it professionally didn’t initially really feel like a sensible choice. Eventually, he determined to go away the safety of the trade and again himself creatively.

Burns believes his followers have related not solely with the completed images, but in addition with the non-public journey behind them.

“People follow me for all sorts of reasons. My Instagram has never just been about landscape photography or wildlife,” he defined.

“It’s actually about sharing who I’m, the place I’ve come from, and the journey alongside the best way. When I first shared my story about leaving the mines to chase pictures full-time, that’s when issues actually took off.

“I think people connect with someone having a crack at following a dream.”

Followers Are Enjoying More Than the Wildlife

Judging by Burns’ remark sections, loads of individuals are additionally connecting with the photographer himself.

His outside adventures continuously entice enthusiastic responses from followers admiring each the Australian panorama and the person standing in entrance of it.

“Thank you sir, for not skipping leg days,” one significantly grateful admirer wrote.

Another advised Burns appeared just like the hypothetical offspring of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steve Irwin, whereas others in contrast him with Tarzan and introduced their fast intention to relocate to Australia.

“I would venture to the bushes of Australia for you only,” one follower declared. “I’d feel so safe in those arms.”

Sadly for anybody already checking flights throughout the Tasman, Burns is off the market.

He commonly travels together with his accomplice, fellow wildlife artistic Jessie Stenhouse, because the pair doc Australia’s animals, landscapes and distant communities.

A Roadside Rescue Reaches Millions

Alongside pictures and the occasional social media thirst entice, Burns and Stenhouse use their platform to display how members of the general public can assist injured wildlife.

A current video displaying Burns rescuing an owl from the aspect of a freeway attracted greater than 8.5 million views.

“I caught something in the corner of my eye while doing 100 km/h,” he recalled.

“So I ran over and picked him up, and he didn’t even flinch. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right.”

Burns and Stenhouse wrapped the injured fowl in a towel and took it to the closest veterinary clinic. The owl was recognized with a concussion and later recovered.

Burns mentioned the incident might simply have ended otherwise had one other automobile struck the fowl earlier than they stopped.

“I think it’s an important message to encourage people to take a few minutes out of their day to stop and help an injured animal if they safely can,” Burns mentioned.

“The response is always incredibly positive, which tells me people genuinely care about our wildlife and love seeing those moments.”

Bringing Audiences Closer to the Wild

As his following continues to develop, Burns plans to maintain turning his travels via Australia into tales that join viewers with the nation’s wildlife and landscapes.

His determination to stroll away from a decade-long mining profession has already opened alternatives he as soon as thought-about unimaginable, together with media appearances, main artistic collaborations and the publication of his memoir, Life, Camera, Action.

“My platform has opened doors I never imagined possible, and I’m excited to share what’s still to come,” he mentioned.

“I want to keep telling stories that connect people to Australia’s landscapes, wildlife and the people who call these places home.”

The landscapes are spectacular, the animals deserve defending, and Burns clearly is aware of the right way to maintain an viewers.

Followers can discover him on Instagram at @mitchellburns_.