Gus' love of wildlife photography started around the turn of the millenium when he visited Kruger National Park, South Africa on his first ever safari with a best friend.

' I dont think anyone forgets their first encounter. My friend was driving us around the park and we rounded a corner which was on an up slope and there on the other side, in the middle of the road, stood an enormous male giraffe. Perhaps he just looked as tall as the empire state building because he was higher than the vehicle, but I swear he was.From that moment I was hooked '

Gus returned to Kenya's Masai Mara the following year for a weeks safari where a chance encounter with award winning photographer Paul Goldstein would further his interest and passion for the African plains.



'Ever since he 'borrowed' my 500mm F4 lens eight years ago during a particularly trying game drive where I succeeded in getting two vehicles stuck, Gus has been a lifelong friend and photographic colleague. I have guided literally hundreds of aspiring photographers in that time but it is probably his company I enjoy about the most. Regardless of the fact that he is a Newcastle Utd supporter and therefore northerner by default, he is probably among the most promising photographers I know. He is fiercely critical of his own work but fortunately does not have that awful avaricious streak which manifests on game drives that sends dummies flying from the 4WD when Mr or Mrs Precious happens to miss out on a good sighting. From a humble Canon 300 he now has some decent tools but more importantly he has, not only a very keen eye but also the chutzpah to gamble. Record shots and regular portraits are low down on his photographic pecking order and he would prefer to mess up while try something ambitious, than play safe and rue the opportunity later. He knows that by gambling consistently he will eventually strike gold. Take a look at this site, I have gorged myself on it for the past fifteen minutes, for me it is like looking through a family album, but a very good one, and believe me I see an awful lot of photos each year, most of which do not inspire me.

Gus, I look forward to guiding you again soon, photography is a difficult challenging craft which needs diligent practice. It also helps if you have the correct attitude towards your craft ....and talent, which you have in spades.' PG




Gus has also been heavily involved with a charity based in North West Tanzania that operates dental training and community development programmes.

'...Tanzania has a ratio of one dentist to every 300,000 people, and most of these are found around the major cities. Up to 90 percent of the population live out in the rural areas with no access to safe dental treatment. Bridge2Aid is helping to change that.
For me it's about giving something back that's sustainable to the local people and I'm fortunate to have some skills that I can pass on to help them in a small way. It's run by a fabulous bunch of people with boundless drive and energy and I feel very priviliged to be a part of it...'


'...the priority for me is just to keep improving as a photographer, the rest will take care of itself. Right now its hard enough to find the time amoungst other projects to pick up the cameras and jump on a plane, but I'm never more relaxed than when I'm out there '

In 2008 Gus was the wildlife category winner in the Wanderlust Photographer of the Year for his slow panned image of the wildebeast crossing the Mara River and in 2009 was Highly Honoured in the Natures Best Photography competition in the USA. His portrait of the lion cub on a tree stump was exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington DC.