The Photographer

Photography is a way in which I can express my love and appreciation for nature and hopefully raise awareness and inspire others to preserve our remaining natural wilderness. It is where I simultaneously find peace and excitement. Since I was a child I had a love for nature and the importance of its conservation was instilled in me since I can remember. 
My father, especially, taught me about the importance of conservation.  He always challenged us to learn (and remember) the scientific names of animals. From my days as a toddler, I loved fishing and snorkeling in the shallow rock pools of the South Cape. This love for the ocean eventually led me to the Red Sea around the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt where I qualified as a Dive Master and were introduced to underwater photography, albeit with a very rudimentary camera.

Soon after, the photography bug bit me big time and it was not long after that I purchased my first SLR camara – a Canon EOS30.  This I combined with a Sigma 180mm macro lens and a Sigma 170-500mm zoom lens.  Upon returning from my travels overseas, and prior to commencing my studies at university, I spent some time in the South of Namibia where the opportunities for photography are endless.  As a student I would visit the Kruger National Park with my dad where my true passion for wildlife photography was born.  During my student years, we would also often visit the Isimangaliso Wetland Park where very good friends of our family, the Gerber family, allowed us to stay with them in their Parks Board Home where we were privileged to experience some exceptional times in nature.  This is where I started focusing more on bird photography.

After the introduction of digital cameras, I eventually purchased a Canon EOS 20D which I later upgraded to a 50D and finally today the Canon EOSR6.  I combine this magnificent camera with my 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM or a 600mm f/4 lens, especially when photographing birds. I enjoy photographing wildlife in general but my passion remains birdlife.  When photographing wildlife I try to showcase animal and bird behaviour in their natural habitat and take great care to photograph them without intruding into their space at all.  This is where a telephoto lens plays a big role. I seek to photograph wildlife while they are at ease and acting naturally.  I am passionate about photographing wildlife and hope to contribute to the conservation of our remaining, but rapidly declining, wilderness through sharing its beauty and telling its stories through my photography.