"I have a huge and endless passion for animals. I use photography and film to express that passion and devotion." With more animal species nearing extinction, deforestation and global warming threatening to change our entire world, the question that all environmentalists should be asking themselves is, 'how can we influence and bring change to a much needing modern world?' In my opinion, photography has a vital role in changing people’s lifestyles. There is only so much that can be achieved by a scientific report. People need to value the natural world before they would be willing to change their lives in an effort to save it.
I have always believed that if I can capture something special or unique in my imagery, regardless of whether in footage or photography, I can use it to influence people about the important issues I am so passionate about, especially animal conservation and global warming. I am particularly interested in the conservation of Africa’s ‘Big Five’, which includes lions, leopards, rhino, elephants and cheetahs. My approach to photography involves submerging myself within the environments I am in. I look for areas of natural environment that are not only challenging to photograph but also challenging to access. I think the most wild areas of natural environments offer the most in terms of photographic opportunities. Regardless of whether I am hiking through the wild forests of North America, or looking down my camera lens at wild bobcats. I am amazed by some of the things I have seen, and treasure momories of the magnificent places/situations my passions have taken me to.
In photography there is an air of utter dependence on you. Of course you have to frame your picture artistically, but if you take the photo either a fraction of a second too late or too soon, you will miss the shot. At the same time, whilst a photograph captures an expression, action, or emotion, and although it has its own connotations, filming allows you to capture a moment in time, and then to relive that moment over and over again. I adore all animals, but cheetahs especially captivate me. Apart from being the fastest animal on the planet, they remain different compared to other big cats they are commonly associated with. I have photographed and filmed animals/landscapes for longer than I can remember. This experience has gifted me with a priceless background knowledge and understanding of the natural world, ultimately aiding me in taking photographs that capture the exhilarating moments of my life. Contributing to animal conservation is not a means of earning a living, but a lifestyle! |
