About
Bajabule! In TImbavati enjoying a cold beer under an African sky!
I am a freelance wildlife photographer, filmmaker, writer, podcaster and photography safari leader based in Northumberland in the United Kingdom.
My appreciation and fascination of wildlife leads me to document and share the natural world we live in. I am particularly interested in trying to photograph wildlife in a way that tells a natural history story. From my favourite local patch, The Farne Islands to the birds and mammals of Sub-Saharan Africa, I am always amazed by our wildlife and natural history.
Throughout 2020 to 2023, I was an official FUJIFILM UK X-Photographer and I continue to work with them as an ambassador. I am also an ambassador for specialist filter manufacturer, Formatt-Hitech.
In 2020 I consolidated my photography tours with my friend and business partner Kaleel Zibe to our dedicated African Photography Safaris website. I also lead and guide photography safaris for Penda Photo Tours.
I welcome commissions for photography and filmmaking assignments, workshop/tour leading and written articles.
In the Camera Bag
I use Fujifilm cameras and lenses, the X-H2S, X-H1 and sometimes my old X-T2. My main lenses are the, XF150-600mm and XF50-140mm f/2.8. Occasionally my XF100-400mm and XF 18-55mm, plus the 1.4x teleconverter get a run out too. Over the years I’ve been working with Fujifilm I’ve also had extensive use of the X-T3, X-T4, X-T5 and XH2 plus the XF200mm and XF10-24mm lenses.
I’ve also enjoyed working with the the medium format GFX50s, GFX100s and GFX100sII with the GF500mm, GF250mm and GF32-64mm.
I use a 3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0 tripod and Alan or Alana monopods together with Airhed Trinity heads. All are incredibly lightweight but sturdy and very well engineered.
Like most photographers, I have a large collection of camera bags and I’m yet to really find one that fits all of my requirements. I use a ThinkTank Airport Commuter for travelling with gear, especially on flights, and a Manfrotto RedBee-210 ‘in the field’.
I often use graduated filters when photographing wildlife in a wider context. My filters of choice are the Firecrest Ultra range from Formatt-Hitech for their incredible colour neutrality and sharpness. In May 2019 I accepted an invitation to become a brand ambassador for Formatt-Hitech filters.
More recently I’ve started to move in to filmmaking projects. The Fujifilm cameras I use give me what I need with features such as 4k footage and F-log capability. But, there’s a whole host of extra accessories needed to get results.
For filmmaking I use a manfrotto fluid video tripod head, an Atomos Shinobi external monitor and Zoom H4N multi-track audio recorder.
Ethics
As a responsible and conservation-minded photographer, I am committed to a number of ethical standards in my photography.
First and foremost, the welfare of subjects always takes priority over the photograph.The vast majority of my photographs are of wild subjects. Where this is not the case, I try to point out the circumstances surrounding the photograph.
I do not use live bait or other bait which may harm or adversley affect the behaviour or well-being of an animal. I do not not use sound lures to attract or distract animals unless I am working with conservationists under authorised, controlled and managed conditions.
I put a great deal of effort into learning about the the animals I photograph and the habitat I work in. This fieldcraft helps me avoid any actions which may cause distress or harm to the animals or place myself or those with me in any danger.
While processing my photographs I enhance and ‘fine-tune’ only. I do not use any digital manipulation in such a way to misrepresent the subject or its habitat and environment. I believe wildlife photography should exist to form a natural history record and that carries an implicit expectation that the photograph is a depiction of a scene witnessed and experienced in nature by the photographer.
Male Lion, Lemek Conservancy Maasai Mara