NZPhotographer Issue 21, July 2019

F8, 1/30s, ISO400
Behind The Shot With Gary Reid
TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR JOURNEY WITH
PHOTOGRAPHY…
Born in Durban, South Africa I'm now living in Auckland
with my wife. My passion for photography first started
with an interest in wildlife way back in primary school.
Game Rangers used to visit school, showing us wildlife
movies and as I got into my teen years I wanted
to capture these wildlife moments. Saving up and
buying my first camera at age 15, I taught myself
photography by reading books and asking many
questions.
I had my first trip into the Hluhluwe game reserve
when I was a teenager and I got hooked. Once you
experience the sights, sounds and smells of the African
bush, it gets into your blood, it never leaves you…
The sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking! I wanted
to capture everything through my lens, from the big
game animals to the smallest of birds and insects and
the moods of the African sky.
Aside from the spectacular visual feast, there's the
unique smell of the African bush and the cacophony
of sounds. The night noises fade when the early
morning sun starts to colour the horizon, only to be
replaced by the daytime sounds and so it goes on,
24/7.
After I got married, my wife and I started to spend
longer and longer holidays in the bush and I really
started to get into my wildlife photography. Forty years
on, and I still can’t get enough! I am very fortunate
that my wife and later on, our daughter, has the same
passion for wildlife, because we have spent many
long hours, waiting patiently in the heat of the day for
the perfect shot!
In the last 15 years I have also gone into other aspects
of photography such as portrait, weddings, fashion,
sport, and fine art.
I won Photographer Of The Year (2005) in South Africa
and have had my images published in a variety of
South African magazines after winning competitions
(Getaway, Custos, and South African Country Life) as
well as getting published in NZ Photographer issues
2,9,11,16,18 & 20.
6 NZPhotographer