My interest in photography began in 2013. At that time my main interest was about cars, so on car meetings I met a lot of like-minded people who took pictures of their cars. I really liked their photos, so I wanted to create this kind of pictures myself. That’s why I bought my first DSLR and was trying to figure it all out. From that moment on, the camera was always by my side, also when I was going outdoors.
In 2014, I had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand, so of course my main focus there was about landscape photography. I really fell in love with the country and I wanted to travel more, see more. Thus, in 2015, I travelled to Scotland. With a rental car I drove all over the island, obviously the camera by my side. This experience boosted my passion for photography, for travelling, for mother nature and for being outdoors.
One of my favorite moments outdoors though was in Summer 2018, when I was in the Dolomites with friends. We were camping at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the sky was so clear that night; only light clouds were visible. One of my friends suddenly told to look at the sky, and above our heads there was the Milky Way. I couldn’t believe it! I had always wanted to see it with my own eyes. I was thrilled with this view and often think back to this moment. Two nights later we saw this natural spectacle again.
It was so beautiful to see and I hope I can see it again this Summer; to shoot, but also to experience it again. I am not a man who’s focused on this one picture and unconditionally has to take perfect pictures on my hiking tours. The most important thing to me is to have a good time, to have fun. The reason why I’ll always go out there to explore and take pictures, is because I enjoy being outdoors in nature, being creative with the camera, hiking in the woods, seeing the stars in the night sky and smelling fresh air. It clears my mind from all those busy working days.
Andy Rider is a passionate wildlife photographer and filmmaker based in South Africa, dedicated to capturing the raw beauty of nature while raising awareness about conservation. Inspired by legends like Steve Irwin, his journey began as a field guide, where he honed his skills and developed a deep respect for ethical wildlife photography.
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