A Life Through the Lens: The Journey of a Nature Photographer
From a young age, Richard was captivated by the beauty of nature and the art of photography. What began as a childhood curiosity gradually grew into a lifelong passion—and eventually, a career spanning more than three decades.
For the past 30 years, he has worked full-time as a professional nature photographer, based in South Africa. His work has taken him across the African continent, capturing everything from elusive wildlife to sweeping landscapes. Over the years, he has also spent hundreds of hours in the air, photographing from above across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Kenya—always in pursuit of unique and inspiring perspectives.
A defining moment in his career came in 1995 when he won first prize in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for his striking image of two leopards mid-fight. This award not only brought recognition but also marked the true beginning of his professional journey.
In 2002, he was featured in The World’s Top Wildlife Photographers, a book by Terry Hope, alongside some of the most respected names in the field. In 2007, he received the Grand Prize in the Nature’s Best Photography competition for an aerial photograph of zebra in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi region—an achievement that remains one of the highlights of his career.
His work has been published in leading magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, and Nature’s Best. He has contributed to several books on African wildlife, as well as an aerial photography collection titled Bird’s Eye View.
Today, his photographs continue to appear in calendars, books, and across various online platforms. However, what he values most is turning his favorite images into canvas and fine art prints—artworks now displayed in homes and galleries around the world.
Through his lens, he has had the privilege of experiencing and sharing the wonders of the natural world, and his passion for storytelling through photography remains as strong as ever.
