James Gifford

It is often said that when Africa gets into your blood, you will never leave. My first experience was at the impressionable age of 7, when I went on my first safari. I was instantly hooked and the magic of the people and wildlife fascinates me still. Since then I have travelled to all seven continents, experiencing an amazing variety of cultures and incredible sights.

 My passion for photography grew as I attempted to record and share some of these beautiful places and creatures. A good photograph, however, is more than a record of a spectacular view or animal; it should also be an interpretation, so that whoever sees the image understands the character of the animal, the atmosphere of the place, or the personalities of the people in the picture. The challenge is to create an image that does not require any additional explanation - seeing the image should leave a similar or ideally greater impression on the viewer than if he had seen the event first-hand in real life, and importantly, to do this in an original way. 

 After nine years in London, I am now based in Botswana, having recently spent a year managing a luxury safari lodge there. I hope you enjoy these photographs; please feel free to leave any comments or queries by clicking on the Contact Us tab.