Base Camp from the air.

Last month I had the rare opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine; to photograph a large variety of the wildlife of Botswana. Not, as is customarily the case, in my studio, but to embark on a 14 day adventure to the center of South Africa.

Joined by my wife and 2 daughters, we criss-crossed the country of 220,000 sq miles, roughly half of which is protected as a national park. As we explored the magnificent terrain, it was apparent both the government officials and the local citizenry were committed to protecting this extraordinary natural habitat.

Wildlife photography is all about observing, planning, and then waiting. Anticipating the location of the sun, the habits of the wildlife, and the vagaries of the weather are only slightly different than dealing with clients, handlers, and deadlines back home. But, as is always the case, patience eventually pays off!

I won’t be trading my Chicago studio for a Range Rover anytime soon, but I do look forward to more opportunities to stretch my boundries and stir my creative juices visiting some of the most pristine ecosystems on our planet.