About
I grew up in South Africa, a country that has pretty good weather all year round. Boasting diverse geographic ranges, from coastal beaches, forests, bushveld, deserts and mountainous areas. Home to an abundance in nature - 100’s of mammal and bird species, 1000’s of plants and 10s of 1000s of insect species. Just over 9% of the land area is categorised as protected areas, part of this being our much loved National Parks.
We spent a lot of time outdoors - playing sports, camping, exploring and enjoying the beautiful country side with family & friends. I now live with my wife in London, UK. We travel back regularly to visit and yes, the camera kit is the first to be packed.
I have always been fascinated in the natural environment, and decided to start photographing wildlife when I purchased my first instamatic camera. I then bought an entry level DSLR… being able to interchange lenses and adjust camera settings, opened up a whole new world of possibility for me, and so my passion grew.
It was not until 2020, when I had an extended holiday back home (SA), thanks to the pandemic, that I had ample time to get out and photograph at leisure.
My first week’s stop was the Kruger National Park, where I spent a brilliant week with my brother-in-law between Satara and Skukuza. Sightings were good. Besides the big game sightings, I started becoming fascinated by the smaller subjects that often get ignored or not much interest is given to.
One just needs to take your time, slow down and take it all in….
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” - Lao Tzu
It was then onto the heart of the Garden Route, Knysna for a weeks visit with my Mom, this being the weekend that both South Africa and the UK locked down at the same time. Having just been made redundant in the January, and with the agreement of my supportive and loving wife I decided that I’d stay a bit longer visiting Mom, thinking that lock down would only last a few weeks.
My initial two week holiday gradually progressed to seven months. I started doing various online courses to keep myself busy and with so much spare time, took my camera out on most days wondering around the townhouse complex due to restrictions. Butterflies and birds becoming my subjects of choice, although not always as co-operative as one would like. The art of patience was definitely tested.
As the rules of being able to be out and about eased, I ventured out to other areas with my trusty camera.
My photography style is to capture images that showcase subjects in their natural environment without disturbing an area or their normal behaviour.
Witness the wonders of nature up close, frozen in time by my camera. Every click freezes a moment, a memory for eternity.