Image © Angi_Wallace

Angi Wallace has been a member here on ePHOTOzine for over 10 years - she's become well known on-site for her stunning close-ups of reptiles and amphibians as well as creative and conceptual portraits. If you haven't checked out her portfolio already, now's the time to take a look. 

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Angi has recently been crowned the National Photographic Society 'Photographer of the Year 2019'. This is fantastic news in itself - but it's a truly amazing achievement when you consider that Angi suffers from M.E, which is sometimes known as chronic fatigue syndrome. 

"I have had M.E. for about 14 years now, it has affected me much worse in the last two years resulting in difficulty walking (most days I only manage room to room), poor coordination, severe exhaustion brought on by minimal activity, pain, swollen glands and sore throats most days, ice-cold hands and feet even in the summer, intolerance of temperature changes, awful cognitive functioning and memory problems.", explains Angie.

Image © Angi_Wallace

The illness means that every little thing she does has to be carefully planned out so as not to aggravate the symptoms. With rest and careful pacing, Angi is able to spend a couple of hours a week doing something that she loves, and this is usually photography-related - either sitting at the studio set up in her living room or exploring local nature reserves on a mobility scooter. 

Image © Angi_Wallace

Angi finds photography a great distraction from her illness. "I have been incredibly lucky in getting to know some creative people locally via social media, resulting in models coming round to our house for short creative photo sessions for free - where again I can just sit in a chair to take most photos. I also have a wonderful friend who has brought creatures (mostly frogs and [my friend is] fully licenced) to stay with me for a few weeks at a time so that I could take photos of them when I felt well enough."

"I am extremely humbled and honoured to be chosen to win the NPS photographer of the year, its lovely to have some recognition of all the time and effort I have put in over 14 years. There are so many incredibly talented photographers who enter each month, it is hard to believe that I have won, but it just shows what you can do when you put your mind to it."

Despite her illness, Angi is determined that one day she might get better and be able to pursue photography as a career. M.E. can be so debilitating - sometimes even what most people class as simple acts such as showering or drying your hair can mean that Angi is left exhausted for hours. 

Image © Angi_Wallace

Angi has a refreshingly positive attitude towards the problems that her illness throws at her. "I have had many people say to me that they give up photography when faced with being mostly housebound and ill - (I talk to a lot of people who also have M.E.), my answer is to adapt - there are ways you can do things to minimise exertion and discomfort.", says Angi. 

"Last year I didn't want to photograph flowers at home - I wanted to get out and photograph bands at gigs, models on location and landscapes - but I couldn't, so I altered my mindset and decided to throw myself in to creating the best close up photographs I could, sat in the dining room, and I am glad that I did."

For more information on Angi and her work, check out her ePz portfolio and her website.