During winter last year, Eileen, Joshua and I spent a fantastic weekend at Benvie Gardens in the Karkloof. While there I had a wonderful conversation with a man who had brought two young boys birding for the morning. We chatted about our love for the Pafuri region of the Kruger National Park, empowering people and bird photography.

At the end of the conversation he said something along the lines of; “This conversation has changed how I am going to approach my photography. I am going to focus less on technical perfection and more on the art side of things”. I was pleased to hear this as it is a game changer when it comes to learning about who you are as a photographer and the unique gifts you have been given in this regard.

Mentorship 2026 – August/September now open

You are unique

I have not met one photographer that is the same as another. I have met photographers who try be like someone else but based on what they love, their natural intuition, their purpose in life and how they take their images, they are not the same. Each one is unique!

I have also met a lot of photographers who are not sure if they are unique and/or creative or do not think they are. After more than 3 years of teaching photography I am more convinced than ever that this is due to a lack of knowledge, practice or confidence or a combination thereof.

The problem with wildlife photography focusing too much on the technical side of things is that it does not teach you about your uniqueness. In fact, I would argue that focusing on technical perfection alone tends to move us towards being average or the same. Improving and mastering the technical side of things is a ticket to the game.  It helps you start taking the images you love consistently. It gives you more time to explore the creative and art side of things. It gives you more tools to use in expressing yourself.

Technical proficiency is very important for all these reasons, but it does not help you answer some far more important questions; who are you as an artist/photographer?, why do you exist as an artist/photographer?, and what is your unique style as an artist/photographer?

These questions are much more personal. They come from understanding what you value, what you are passionate about, what you intuitively see and love in your photographs, what you want to express and communicate through your photographs and the deeper meaning behind what you do. Simple questions that can take a lifetime to explore, nurture and refine. The collective answers, however, will be unique because you are uniquely made. I encourage you to keep pursuing their answers and let them find expression in your work.

“As autumn moves into winter”

The rest of this newsletter is going to focus on images rather than words. I am going to let the images do most of the talking and hopefully show off my favourite season in the Natal Midlands; what I call “as autumn moves into winter”.

Leaves start to transform bringing a kaleidoscope of background and foreground colours…

What were ordinary subjects turn into the extraordinary…

Autumn hues & early morning light turns water into fire, molten gold and chocolate browns…

Temperatures drop, mist rolls in and frost arrives