I grew up in the West Midlands, UK, always close to the countryside with nature on my doorstep. I would spend hours playing and exploring outside in the nearby fields, woods and hills. My childhood holidays, when not in South Africa, were spent camping in South Wales, climbing mountains, exploring coastlines, swimming in the ocean. I have always been in my element, when immersed in nature. Having close personal ties to South Africa, I was lucky enough to spend many childhood holidays visiting relatives all over the country. Each time we visited, we would inevitably spend time on self-drive safaris.
My parents, having both grown up in Southern Africa, injected their own passion for the South African wilderness into me and my sisters. I couldn’t get enough. I dreamt of living there, spending my days immersed in the wild. It was this passion which drove me to pick up a camera and attempt to capture the magic that I felt within my soul each time we stumbled upon a wild animal.
Even though I knew deep down that wildlife photography was what I wanted to do, I lacked the confidence to strive for it. Instead, I took a more conventional, safer career path. I studied a BA(Hons) Photography at Falmouth University and went on to work in an e-commerce studio in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years. While this work did not fulfil my soul, it did teach me valuable skills in technical photography, retouching and working with clients.
I finally reached a point in 2021 where I could no longer ignore the pull of the wild. I quit my job, left my home and my relationship in Ireland and in the Spring of 2022, I set off on a life-changing journey to hike the South West Coast Path. Walking along those wild Cornish cliffs and sleeping each night with the ocean as my neighbour ignited something within me that I didn’t realise I had lost. I felt alive again. I saw countless species like wild deer, a rare adder and recently reintroduced Cornish choughs. Suddenly I was once again inspired to pick up my camera and capture the beautiful nature surrounding me.
In the depths of the UK winter at the beginning of 2023, I got the oppertunity to set off back to South Africa to produce video and photographs for an important rewilding project happening in the Greater Kruger area. Whilst on this trip, I spent time in the Kruger National Park and a nature reserve in the Greater Letaba area. This is where my mindset shifted and I remembered this had been my true calling all along. I started to take wildlife photography more seriously and share my experiences with the world through social media. I faced some challenges in the bush and had to witness some troubling scenes, however, this only fuelled my drive to make an impact through my work. I want to connect people with the wonders of the bushveld and use our shared passion to inspire important action which will protect the natural world.
Looking back at how I got into wildlife photography, I realize that it was more than just a hobby or a fleeting interest. It became the very essence of who I am - a hopeful advocate for the protection of our planet's biodiversity. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to capture wild moments and share them with whoever needs to experience them. My dream is to continue exploring wild spaces all over the planet and bring to light the challenges that different species face in an ever-changing world.
