A West Dorset photographer's self-published book is now available in Waterstones.

Charlie Wheeler has launched his first book of photography, 'Abbotsbury Swannery Through my Lens'.

As the manager of Abbotsbury Swannery, Charlie has a wonderfully unique insight into the lives of swans and their behaviour throughout the year, and as warden of the Chesil and Fleet Nature Reserve, he can combine his passion for conservation and working in the great outdoors with his love of photography.

It was his appreciation for the great outdoors that first inspired Charlie to pick up a camera, and what started as a hobby at the age of 16 has grown into an incredible talent - and his first book.

After completing a degree in animal behaviour, Charlie joined Bridport Camera Club in 2008, which enabled him to not only hone his technical skills, but also learn how to make his pictures tell and story and engage the viewer.

Abbotsbury Swannery Through my Lens highlights Charlie's incredible knowledge and understanding of mute swans. He has been able to observe their full life cycle and character and knows the creatures so well that he can anticipate their behaviour. It's this knowledge that enables him to capture that decisive moment that transforms an image from a simple visual record into an artistic expression of the animal's true beauty and nature.

The photobook - which Charlie designed and created with the help of family and friends - is made up of 16 chapters over 92 pages, with images ranging from the tender to the dramatic - a female watches as the first cracks appear in the egg, two adult males engage in full blown territorial battle.

Charlie says he feels privileged to be able to combine his love of photography with the passion he has for his job and humbled to be tasked with caring for the swans and safeguarding their future.

The book is available from Waterstones in Bridport and Dorchester, as well as at wheeler-photography.co.uk

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