ABOUT ME

I seek out transient moments, rare moments when the natural world puts on a display so great, so inspirational, that I have to see it. Immense thunderstorms, rare weather events, incredible wildlife encounters, that’s when I feel most alive and at peace, out in the wilderness, away from the clamour of modern life. I seek out these moments, mainly for the experience but also for the unique opportunities it provides for photography. Born with an appreciation for the outdoors, I thrive on photographic exploration in search of unique perspectives on our natural world. I am a landscape and wildlife photographer from Johannesburg in South Africa.

I started photography in April 2007, and since then it has evolved into an immense passion. In 2008, I joined a weekend wildlife photography workshop under the guidance of the late Chris Van Rooyen which sparked a huge interest in wildlife photography for me. I do consider myself predominantly self-taught and find great value in online resources, like this eBook, as well as other content such as YouTube videos and articles. I do however, firmly believe that the most effective way to learn is through experience. Go outside and take as many photographs as possible!

My photographs have been published extensively in print and online, both in South Africa and worldwide. My most notable accomplishment is through the creation of 'Remembering Leopards’, a coffee table book published in 2023. I am honoured to have been selected to contribute a photograph for its front cover - a photograph featuring a young leopard named Thandi from the Sabi Sands in South Africa.

I have achieved some success in photographic competitions over the years, with the most notable being the winner of the landscape category in the 2015 Natures Best Photography Africa awards, and more recently winning the Professional Mammals category in the 2022 South African Photographer Of The Year, and taking second place overall in the competition. 

I measure success in a different way to most. I don’t measure success by how many accolades I have, or by how many books I sell or the money I make. Although those are great and the latter Important for business, I measure success by how much I do what I love, and that is being out in the wilderness with my camera.

My passion for the wilderness allows me to connect with my photographic subjects on a deep level, and I hope, at least in a tiny way, that connection comes across through my photographs.

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM: @markdumbletonphoto

FACEBOOK: markdumbletonphoto