With Wild Shots, South Africa’s most exciting wildlife photography conference, just one week away, we thought we’d introduce to you a few of the inspiring and highly-talented nature photographers and conservationists speaking at the event. Photographers and nature enthusiasts of all levels are invited to book their spot at the symposium for a day filled with exciting tales from the field, workshops and discussions around hot industry topics! The registration fee also includes refreshments, lunch and delegate pack.
Shem Compion
Shem Compion is a naturalist and professional wildlife photographer working throughout Africa. His passion for natural areas and photography has led to a life of travel and creating environmental awareness through his photography. Shem is known for his creative representation of common subjects- leading to a diverse range of subject matter. His images have won national and international awards and his work is published worldwide. He has published five books. Shem owns and runs Africa's largest specialized photo safari company; C4 Photo Safaris which run photo safaris and workshops.
Shem’s topic for the event is: Remaining Relevant – adapting to a world of new images and trends.
Ruth Nussbaum
With an innate love of travel and wildlife, Ruth Nussbaum’s passion for photography is a perfect match. Her photographic career began studying Fine Art at Rhodes University and has since adapted and taken on new forms during her travels over the years. Naturally, moving to the bush, her subject focus shifted to the wildlife around her. Having spent time working in the Sabi Sands, Kalahari and Botswana, Ruth has been able to learn about Africa’s wildlife and all its beauty through the practise of photography.
Now based at Mashatu Game Reserve, she enjoys the privilege of being able to view wildlife from the unique perspective of underground hides. She shares her everyday interactions with a greater audience with the aim to spread the vital message of conservation and, of course, her simple love of nature.
Ruth’s topic for the event is: Going Underground – hides in wildlife photography.
Grant Atkinson
Grant Atkinson is a guide, wildlife photographer and writer. He spent twelve years guiding in Botswana, and this country and its wildlife will always hold a special attraction for him. Grant enjoys all forms of nature photography, from birds and mammals to landscapes and macro. He firmly believes that knowing your subject’s behaviour leads to good results.
On photographic safaris Grant always tries to make use of his experience of animal behaviour to allow him to anticipate events before they actually happen. Modern camera gear is becoming ever-more effective at helping wildlife photographers take on more difficult subject matter. Grant spends time working with photographic gear so that he can be confident of taking advantage of some of the equipment’s capabilities. Grant shoots a variety of wildlife related subject matter. His images have made the front cover of both Africa Geographic and the US National Geographic Kids magazine. He is a regular contributor of text and images to African Birdlife, Africa Geographic, and Pix magazine.
Grant’s Topic for the event is: Freeze Frame – photographing animals in action.
Chris Roche
Currently Chief Marketing Officer at Wilderness Safaris, Chris Roche started out in the ecotourism industry as a guide in the mid-1990s. For the past decade he has been employed by Wilderness Safaris in various guises ranging from communications to conservation to marketing.
He has travelled widely in Africa (more than 20 countries in west, central, east and southern Africa and its associated islands), and is passionate about the role the ecotourism industry plays in conservation. He firmly believes that it is a moral and ethical obligation for ecotourism businesses to ensure that their impact on the areas and people where they work is positive and far-reaching and he is determined to drive an expansion of the industry and its positive impacts from the savannah into even more threatened and less-visited biomes like the rainforest and Sahara.
He is not a photographer himself but, it is in the above context, that he believes wildlife photography is so powerful and that we all have a responsibility to use this medium for good. Both in terms of the ethics and behaviour of the photographer, as well as what they portray and where their portrayal is shared.
Chris’ topic for the event is: Marketing the Magic – iconic species in their environments.
For more information about the event and registering, see the Wild Shots Wildlife Photography Symposium website.
