About Sam
I grew up in a safari family in East Africa, with five generations of African adventures. Time in the bush would be formative for me. The light and colours of Africa shaped how I see. My work is about behaviour, a sense of place, and the quiet magic of wild areas. This is the heart of my work.
Colour and light
I chase first light and last light. Gold on grass. Storm blue over the plains. Forest green in quiet shade. The flash of a kingfisher. I expose for colour and for shape. I want each frame to feel honest to the moment and true to place. I love portraits, yet I am drawn even more to animals within their habitat.
Colour holds memory for me. It tells where and when and keeps each frame true to place.
Approach
Patience and respect. As those who have travelled with me know, I wait. I wait for calm. Sometimes I wait for chaos when action tells the story. I prefer natural behaviour to staged scenes. I work across Africa with guides and communities who know these places well. I split my time between the United Kingdom and the field. My work as a safari specialist has taught me that conservation tourism is a shared effort. I expose for colour and for shape so each frame feels true to place.
I make stills of wildlife and of the people who protect it. Film work is in progress through short field pieces and presenter led clips. Limited edition prints are on the way.
Primary system is Nikon Z8 with the Z 180 to 600 and the Z 14 to 30, and an Atomos Shinobi II monitor. Support kit includes Wimberley, Shimoda, and SmallRig.
