“I was on safari in Zimbabwe at a magical spot called Mana Pools. This huge bull elephant walked right past our camp and down to the river then swam out to the grassy islands in the middle of the mighty Zambesi. Our guide thought this might be a good opportunity for me to get close with my very wide angle camera, so we paddled out into the river and slowly moved closer to the big bull. We kept a watchful eye for crocodiles and hippos, which are plentiful in this area. In the distance, you can actually see hippopotamus on the river bank. This elephant was only about 30 feet from us but my camera makes him appear further away. You will notice his left ear is slightly blurred – that’s because it was twitching. Just as I took this shot, the elephant picked up our scent and began to charge. Fortunately for my racing heart, he stopped after only a few paces. He is an awesome sight – a great elephant in the mighty Zambesi River.”
“This is just one of the pristine sanctuaries within Karijini National Park Western Australia that have remained virtually untouched over the years because of the difficulty in accessing this spectacular place. To enter this secluded chamber you have to manoeuvre through the narrow neck of the canyon, under a two-metre wide rock that is wedged above the waterfall. From the top it is impossible to see what is going on below so a leap of faith is required to drop into the waterspout and allow yourself to be launched over the falls into the emerald waters below. Once committed to the spout there is no turning back – you have to stay the course. The only way out of this magnificent place, is to jump off more waterfalls and swim a couple of kilometres through breathtaking gorges, then scramble up a rocky slope to get out of the gorges. I love this shot because it reminds me what wonderful places we can discover on our adventures if we can overcome our fears and commit ourselves to the journey of life.”
“This is one of a special series of images that mark the beginning of a new style of photography when I started shooting wildlife with the medium format Phase One camera. I was using the 500mm lens for the camera which has to be focused manually. People all around me were shooting with more conventional cameras offering automatic functions and high ISO capabilities. The highest ISO I could shoot was 200. While others seemed to be getting many shots, I was only getting the occasional one right. Frustrated, I actually considered of giving up and switching to an easier format. But when I saw this shot – the sharpness and quality when you do get it right – I was inspired to keep going. It reminded me that as a professional I should not be looking for the easiest path, but striving for something unique and of the highest quality.”
“When photographing lakes with grand mountain vistas behind, we often hope for calm days, which can produce perfect reflections. On this particular morning, the wind was blowing with such force that it was hard to remain upright on the walk into this location. So when I arrived, I was doubtful of getting a good shot. I set up anyway and waited to see what would develop. At first light, low cloud shrouded the mountain range. Then, as the sun rose a little higher in the sky, the whole scene came alive. The turquoise hues of the glacial water contrasted with the molten gold reflections in the lake. This just goes to show that often what we think will be best can be surpassed when we relax and allow creation to old before us.”
“Bindi Station, one of Victoria’s oldest properties, dates back to the middle of the Nineteenth Century. It was autumn when I visited; the wind was gusting and carpets of golden leaves were floating down from the tall poplars above. I had to wait till the air was still enough to get this shot, but it was more than worthwhile. In this 5:1 ratio Megapan, I was able to capture a wonderful sweep of old-style rural magnificence, from the creek with its timber bridge on the left to the quaint shed on the right. The majestic poplars had spread their glory of leaves across pasture, road and creek banks, making for a picture-perfect panoramic scene.”