WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Ivan is a very keen photographer and given his time in the bush, which is usually well over 200 days per year, he finds himself confronted with some amazing scenes and action. Armed with his Canon Eos 1N and a 35 to 350 mm lens, he is ready to go!!

Ivan got his first camera aged 12 and fell under well known bird photographer Peter Ginn, from whom he learned a huge amount and became fascinated with this aspect of the bush..... he went on to win the junior photographer of the year in Zimbabwe twice in a row, aged 14 and 15.

Over the years Ivan has accumulated a huge and comprehensive library from all over Africa, his work has appeared in many magazines, safari brochures and other publications. Most of his sales have been to private safari goers over the years, until his work was seen by some artists who pushed him into holding an exhibition.

The first of these took place in Edinburgh, where the Edinburgh zoo commissioned him as well as Debby Hart, a well known wildlife artist to exhibit at the zoo for a six week exhibition, "it went far better than I had expected and we got some great reviews"

The second exhibition was in a High Street gallery in London - where Ivan and Debby again exhibited for a week and had some very good feedback and reports, including some interest from the local tabloids.

In Ivan’s words:

"I try and capture a little tiny bit of the soul of the moment... I want people to feel my pictures and not simply see them... I try and always find a different angle or composition, so much African wildlife has been photographed by millions of people, its important to get something a bit different... I want my pictures to touch a chord in people and to give them a hunger to see the scene for themselves... " to give the pictures more meaning Ivan often accompanies a picture with one of his poems...

strength and pride, muscled gold,
amber stare, focused, cold,
in silent feet his weapons sheathed,
his hunters skill to his kin bequeathed
a rush a snort, a squeal, a cry,
the slowest has his turn to die,
stealth and silence coldly married
through a tawny sea, fresh prey carried,
a roar hails all through early air,
beware, the king, for he is here.

Have a look at some more of Ivan’s pictures in the gallery