Please tell us a bit about yourself, and what got you into wildlife photography. 

I have been drawn to nature since I was young and was fortunate to spend time doing safari with my family. As I grew older, my love for nature never changed and I wanted to leave a bigger impact. I studied environmental management and joined the corporate world with the goal to make a difference there. When I found that it was more of a paperwork exercise than anything else, I reconnected with nature through photography. My intuition was shouting louder than ever to get out of the city and make a life of nature. I sold everything, taking only my camera and my vehicle with me and off I went to guiding school. While studying there, I self-learned photography and found that I had a knack for it. As my guiding career blossomed, so did my photography and the passion for teaching it and sharing it with the world. Now I take people around the world teaching them about the wonders of nature and how to capture meaningful, magnificent images with their cameras. 

What made you get the Alpha 1? Why is it the most suitable for your photos/work

I have always been a techno-geek and loved how technology has helped frame our view of the world. My initial change to mirrorless was a quantum leap in my photography and the release of the Alpha 1 would be the next. As a wildlife photographer, guide and content creator, the Alpha 1 was the perfect tool for my arsenal as it is the best camera for photography and videography. It gave me the freedom to create while moving effortlessly between mediums. The art of storytelling has made a strong migration toward video and whilst photography remains my chosen medium of storytelling there is no doubt that just having the Alpha 1 has given me greater opportunity to expand that storytelling to moving images. 

The 50MP high-resolution images shows all the details of my subjects so that the viewers may feel like they are there with the animals, birds and landscapes. The speed of focus lets me concentrate on telling the story allowing the camera to track the eyes of my subject while I compose the image. The high frame rates mean the perfect moment is never missed for the story. 

The effortless switch between shooting images to 4k video gives another dimension to my story creation. Now I film incredible moments in amazing quality, with pin sharp focus and at high frame rates to show the detail of the movement or interaction taking place in front of me. 

What project stands out as the most memorable from your portfolio? 

It is special walking into nature with my camera, and every trip has a different highlight to look forward to. Going out for the first time with the Alpha 1 was a moment that stands out in my memory. We went out to see what this camera had to offer at Marataba Conservation Camps, an incredible lodge in a big 5 reserve in South Africa. With this single-minded focus, we set out to show what this high megapixel beast was made of.  

Two moments stood out  to me while we cruised the reserve in search of some suitable subjects. Firstly, was an interaction with a big bull elephant, feeding through the green plains on an overcast day made for dramatic and powerful imagery. Calm and collected as he moved across the plains with the mountains in the background, it was picture perfect and while moving closer, he showed us his dominance by shaking his head allowing me to capture every detail from the dust flicking off his head, to every crease, hair and mud splatter on his body.  

The next magical moment that we were privy to, was a lioness and her cubs coming for a drink. As if appearing out of nowhere, she waltzed out of the bush into the open, cubs in tow and trying to stay close to their protector. The opportunity as the cubs leaned out from behind mom to inquisitively stare at us, was one that didn’t last long, but the Alpha 1’s Animal Eye AF locked on and allowed me to capture the moment. 

How does the G Master Lens complement the Alpha 1?  

The G Master lenses perfectly complement my Alpha 1 because they work cohesively. Without the magnificent G Master glass in front of the camera, there would be a lot more work to do to get the image quality out of the Alpha 1. The speed of focus, the eye tracking and the pin sharp image was taken every time as it allows me to react quickly to these momentarily situations. The bokeh separated the subject from the background enhancing my image and storytelling and the versatility of the gear gives me the freedom to work in all conditions and concentrate on my art. 

When you are producing and curating your shots, what are the important/key features that you focus on?  

For the most part, wildlife photography cannot be staged, moments arise and as a wildlife photographer, I have to be ready to capture the moments as they happen and tell the story within a blink of an eye. As a guide and naturalist, my knowledge of the animal’s behavior allows me to predict behavior, giving me the time to be ready for the moment and to capture it. Understanding the animal’s movement and having the freedom to position myself also permits me to create the image I want. All this is well and good, but I need my gear to think as fast as I do so that these fleeting moments can be captured. 

I am always looking for the moment that says a thousand words, that conveys the complexity of the creature that I am photographing and shows of its magnificent evolution into being. Animals have personality, complexity of thought, power and politics as well as tenderness. Within this system, brutality is as necessary as beauty and is the yang to the ying which makes the circle of life so magical. So, I am always looking to capture all moments in a way that can teach the world about the incredible nature of Mother Nature.  

What is the most challenging situation for you?  

Weather poses its own problems and whilst it can create amazing images when you find the right subject, it makes it more difficult to find those subjects. Wind and rain particularly hamper one’s pursuits of wildlife as most animals will try and hide from the elements to protect themselves from exposure or their scent being wafted around. It is also a time when sound is cluttered with falling rain or rustling leaves resulting with animals less likely to put themselves in harm’s way by moving around. I have had many safaris where you don’t see a living thing as they all hunker down for hours on end until the weather becomes more accommodating. 

Which is your favorite animal to shoot? What kind of environments do you like to shoot in?  

I would have to say the leopard. It is an elusive super cat which is a master of camouflage. It took me the first 16 years of my life searching before I got to see a leopard in the wild and since working as a guide, I have become a glutton for these magnificent spotted cats. Its expressive eyes and perfect build make for a wildlife photographer’s dream. 

Whilst throughout Africa, most animals remain similar, the scenery changes dramatically. My favorite environment to shoot in is one I haven’t shot in before as the creation of images becomes so unique that it is easy to point your camera in any direction and capture a new story. 

Have you ever been in a “too close for comfort” situation/ dangerous situation?  

I remember once following a leopard in a vehicle off the road. To get good headshots as the cat is walking towards you, I would make big loops around the leopard. I needed to get to a point further down the animal’s path where I could capture its movement toward me and have solid eye contact. The male leopard I was following was marking his territory and after making a loop out in front, I leaned out over the door of the four-wheel drive to get a low angle and a little closer to eye level. The leopard approached the vehicle, walked right next the vehicle, and marked his territory. The only thing available was my overhanging elbow and head, which became the perfect point to rub his head on and spread his scent, thereby leaving me as his property until my next shower.  

What constitutes the “perfect” shot for you? How long do you wait for your perfect shot? 

My perfect shot is one in which the story told is strong and the subject photographed is made to look as majestic as nature intended or the power of the situation is enforced through the photography thereof. As a guide and photographer, there is less waiting around for shots to happen and more of having an idea of what I would like to achieve. From there the moments captured are based on luck of what you see, being prepared for a moment which may arrive and being able to trust that my equipment will help me capture the moment that presents itself. Through thousands and thousands of hours in the field, and many many more photographs taken, I have learned to craft an image to portray and demonstrates what nature has to offer. But you better believe that when the opportunity presents itself, I am going to be staring through my Alpha 1, ready to freeze that moment for the rest of the world to enjoy. 

What do you want your work to say? 

I have always been in awe of Mother Nature. Her power, Her interconnectivity and Her magical circle of life. I feel like the world has lost touch with Mother Nature and Her perfection in success and failure, beauty and brutality, life and death, and through my photography I wish to reconnect people to Mother Nature’s magnificence. No matter which side of the coin we look, people may need to bask in Her beauty through the small window of my viewfinder and find the desire to reconnect with Her in person.