I am a complete wannabe when it comes to wildlife photography, but I prefer to blame my dinky point-and-click camera rather than my lack of skill. These guys, however, have got it completely right! If you want streams of epic wildlife photos popping up in your twitter feed, follow these talented South African wildlife photographers. We asked them to share a little of their inspiration with us…
By the way, if you don’t mind tripping over your own jaw, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, now in its 49th year, is running at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History in Pretoria until 30 June 2014. You’ll see many works by South African photographers, including Isak Pretorius, who won the category Behaviour: Birds, and Greg Du Toit, who won the overall prize for his Essence of Elephants photograph.
Isak Pretorius
Twitter: @isakpretorius
Website: www.facebook.com/isakpretorius.wildlifephotography
What I do is more for the love of nature than photography. Conservation is part of my every day job. I believe that if we can show people the beauty of our natural world and get enough people to care, it’s our best chance of saving the nature that we love.
Photography is a great tool to experience nature in detail and to express your creativity. I find inspiration in the beauty of the places I go to and the subjects I find. My aim is to take photos that showcase their beauty, unique features, and characteristics through a variety of angles and details. I try not just to document nature but to create art.
Bird photography was the first genre I became very passionate about. I love birds. You find them everywhere, they always do something interesting and beautiful, and even the dullest bird can look spectacular when the photographer positions himself at the right angle and with the right light.
Andrew Beck
Twitter: @AndrewBeckSA
Website: www.photography.wild-eye.co.za/
Blog: www.photography.wild-eye.co.za/photochat-blog/
Growing up in the bush and spending 9 years studying ecology and conservation I have found that photography not only allows me to capture special moments in time but to explore and visit new and exciting destinations throughout Africa. Photography requires patience and a lot of time in the field in order to capture unique and compelling stories. This aspect of photography adds to the experience at any destination in our country.
With so many breath-taking natural areas on our doorstep, it’s tricky to choose a favourite destination. I am sure that most wildlife photographers will agree the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park has to be on every photographers top 10 list. The quality of light, stark landscapes, and diversity of wildlife draws many photographers back each and every year.
Gerry van der Walt
Twitter: @gerryvanderwalt
Website: www.gerryvanderwalt.com
Blog: www.photography.wild-eye.co.za/photochat-blog/
Wildlife photography is an incredible craft which combines the beauty of nature with technology and creativity. There is something for everybody and the ability to tell nature’s stories is truly a privilege. Southern Africa has an incredibly rich natural heritage and the diversity of areas and wildlife subjects makes for incredible photographic opportunities. This combination gives wildlife photographers the amazing freedom to keep on creating new and unique images without ever getting bored or getting the feeling that they have done it before.
Peter Chadwick
Twitter: @WildImagery
Website: www.peterchadwick.co.za
As a wildlife and conservation photographer, I try and create iconic and thought provoking imagery of the environment that in turn promotes and encourages support for conservation. Powerful imagery breaks through language barriers, creating awe and wonder, reinforced by a genuine understanding that can inspire us to action and changed behaviour. South Africa’s diverse habitats and rich biodiversity offer endless opportunities for exploration and storytelling.
Steve Bailey
Twitter: @PhotoSB
Website: www.stevebailey.co.za
I am inspired by light…those amazing colours in the sky before dawn and those few minutes of moody golden light after sunrise. Those 45 minutes of the day is soul food to a photographer.
South Africa has an amazing vista of landscapes and places to photograph. Until I moved to the Eastern Cape, I would gravitate to the Kgalagadi with its peaceful solitude, amazing mixture of landscapes, and Black Maned Lion. The photography potential was unlimited. When I first found the Kalahari, it was unspoilt wilderness, but it has unfortunately been found by the rest of the world and the 4X4 drivers who ride the dunes. It was quite a shock to find an empty beer can on one of the Kgalagadi Trails…
But having moved to the tiny village of Bedford 3 years ago, I have found a new palate of amazing landscapes and wildlife to photograph. Besides parks like Mountain Zebra, Addo, and the likes of Shamwari, there are many “hidden treasures” in the area where wildlife thrives. Not to mention the landscapes of Hogsback, Baviaans River Valley, and the Eastern Cape Highlands. Snow on the Winterburg in July ? Yes! Just 42km from my front door.
Timothy Griesel
Twitter: @photography_tim
Website: www.timothygriesel.co.za
Wildlife photography is rewarding, not in the sense that you make a lot of money, but it allows you the opportunity to go out and explore the beauty that is out there in Southern Africa. South Africa is unique in that we have a variety of landscapes, from mountain ranges in the Drakensberg and flat open grasslands in the Free State, to the beautiful arid Karoo, and fynbos down the coast. We are spoilt for choice in both scenery and wildlife.
We have some of the most iconic and adored wildlife in the world. Bringing images of these beautiful creatures to the rest of the world is rewarding and keeps us motivated. I love using wildlife photography to highlight specific species and the challenges they are facing (due to human conflict or poaching) and spread the word across the world to as many people as possible. It is a great medium in which to both inspire and bring about change. What keeps me inspired is gauging people’s reactions to my photographs and hearing their comments. It’s the reward of knowing I’ve touched someone with an image and perhaps even helped bring awareness.
Mark Dumbleton
Twitter: @MarkDumbleton
Website: www.markdumbleton.com
I am passionate about and motivated by the awe-inspiring wilderness of Africa. I photograph nature in its purest form, sometimes pushing the boundaries to obtain that unique perspective that evokes emotion for the beauty of the natural world.
I can’t choose a favourite destination to photograph, because each one is special to me. If I had to choose, my top locations in South Africa would be Blyde River Canyon, Greater Kruger National Park, Kalahari Desert, Drakensberg Mountains, Richtersveld National Park, and the Western Cape Coastline.
Roger de la Harpe
Twitter: @RogerdelaHarpe
Website: www.rogerandpatdelaharpe.com
I think my favourite place in South Africa is Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. It is not necessarily the most productive from a photographic point of view (for that we will have to go somewhere like Phinda or MalaMala), but it is a stunning place to be. It has a wonderful “bush” atmosphere, is great for scenics and rhino photography, and it is relatively quiet – one can actually do a game drive without bumping into another car.
Adam Kotze
Twitter: @adamKwildlife
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Adam-Kotze-Wildlife-Photography/301649186550220
My favourite destination in South Africa is the Kruger National Park. Not only because of its natural beauty and awesome wildlife, but because it holds so many memories for me. Memories of time spent there with my beautiful wife and memories of when I was a young kid visiting the park with my grandparents and parents. And memories to come of fun times spent with my kids. There is just something romantic about the African bush and Kruger is a cost effective way to experience our amazing wildlife. This southern Ground Hornbill was spotted foraging the African savannah grass in the midday heat of Kruger National Park. These beautiful birds are listed on the critically endangered list and I hope they will be around one day for my kids to enjoy.
Morkel Erasmus
Twitter: @Lekrom
Website: www.morkelerasmus.com
Blog: http://blog.morkelerasmus.com
What’s to say? I love our country (the whole of Africa, actually) and the natural heritage we have been blessed with. It’s our job to keep handing this heritage down to the next generation in as pristine a state as possible, and I think wildlife photographers help to show others who might not get out of the hustle and bustle of urban life as much to appreciate what we have and perhaps become concerned with conservation. I love this art form of photography. You’re never too old to grow in your craft and learn more – and spending time in nature with like-minded folk is a great source of joy and inspiration to me personally. My favourite National Park in SA has to be the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, an arid place of immense beauty and wonder that will steal a piece of your heart with every visit.
South Africa has many other talented wildlife photographers who share their passion for nature and conservation through their captivating images. Who are your favourite photographers?
Feature image: Lesser Flamingo wading in shallow still waters by Peter Chadwick
