Hello I'm not a wildlife photographer, but I love wildlife- and I love to see how professional photographers capture the most intimate moments in the wild. I'm a retired chef 45 years. Currently, learning be a Potter for ( about 18 months now) I have a studio I built in my garage, and I'm getting my axx handed to me through Clay! I thought it was gonna be easy, alas it is not-! Clay is teaching me many things I need to learn. But at my age, you think I'd already know them! Lol 1- patience 2- perseverance 3- letting things go 4 -chilling out and its ok not to be perfect. Everything that's opposite of the culinary world, and I'm grateful for it. I'm posting a couple pictures of my latest kiln unload, for wildlife enthusiasts, one is a hand sculpted whale that os an oil burner, and the other one is a dragonfly. décor for a garden . Thank you for accepting me into this group.

@Lisa Viviers joined us, she guides women 40+ to build online income with confidence, clarity, & ease no tech stress or burnout. She lives in the Arid North of South Africa, not too far from the Augrabies waterfalls. Augrabies Falls is one of South Africa’s most dramatic and other‑worldly landscapes — a place where the Orange River suddenly narrows, accelerates, and drops 56 metres into a vast granite gorge. The Khoikhoi name for it, Aukoerebis, means “place of great noise”, which makes perfect sense once you stand near the boardwalk and feel the vibration in your chest. Her groups also create a heart thumping expectation of good things. Fiona and I would have loved to have gone there on our SA trip but we do not have the time.

Wow, we left wet and windy England at 9 pm and stepped off the plane 11 hours later in Capetown. In less than an hour afrer arriving we were home with all our luggage. A day passed when we took it easy and chatted with family and went off to have a drive and listed over 35 bird species. Today, we met up with Gooses Cape Town IRL and was thrilled with the warmth and friendliness of everyone. We were fed and watered by Cindy Greef. Cindy also let us loose with some wild buck. We took photos and videos .

Right then, explorers — we’re heading to South Africa soon, and this is your moment to unleash every burning question you’ve ever had about wildlife, photography, travel, or why warthogs run like they’ve forgotten their PE kit. Nothing is too basic, too nerdy, or too wonderfully unhinged. Examples to get you going: - “Will a penguin judge my camera settings?” - “How many memory cards is too many?” - “What’s the correct emotional response to seeing my first wild elephant?” - “Is it normal to pack snacks for the meerkats?” Drop your questions below — serious, curious, or comedy gold. Let’s make this thread the safari warm‑up we all need.

The Wildlife Lens is where wildlife photographers and naturalists come to actually connect, learn, and help each other find more of what we love. Built by Gareth Parkes and Fiona Etkin, this isn't a faceless info hub. It's a community of people who'd rather be cold, muddy, and watching a Lilac-breasted Roller at dawn or watching otters in a Dorset stream by than scrolling Instagram from the sofa. 🤝 Share Your Passion — Or Just Soak It In Whether you're a seasoned field naturalist eager to share decades of knowledge, or someone who just loves wildlife and wants to learn more — you belong here. If you love to share: - Post your field reports, best shots, and hard-won location tips - Teach what you know about your local patch or favorite species - Help others with ID questions and fieldcraft advice - Contribute sighting intel and seasonal updates If you're here to learn: - Absorb expertise from people who've spent decades in the field - Ask beginner questions without judgment (we all started somewhere) - Follow along with expedition stories and species guides - Lurk, learn, and jump in when you're ready — no pressure If you're somewhere in between: - Share the occasional find that excited you - Ask questions that help everyone learn - Celebrate others' wins - Build confidence at your own pace - This isn't about proving expertise or performing for likes. It's about genuine love for the natural world — whether you've been birding for 40 years or just bought your first pair of binoculars last month. Your curiosity is enough. Your passion is welcome. Your questions help others learn too. Your next steps: → Introduce yourself in START HERE (where do you shoot? what do you love?)→ Browse Species Spotlight for identification tips and behavioral insights→ Share your latest field report or ask about your mystery sighting→ Jump into discussions — we're genuinely happy to help Fair warning: We talk a lot about dawn starts, muddy boots, missed shots, and species that refuse to cooperate. We believe the best wildlife experiences involve questionable weather, occasional equipment failures, and the very real possibility of ending up ankle-deep in something unexpected.