I grew up in one of the most beautiful areas of Germany, the Black Forest. I have felt excited to discover the area since I was a child and this excitement soon crossed the borders to other areas and countries. For work I have been a lot in the US and I went to Iceland twice, which are both incredible places and very diverse.
I started photographing about 10 years ago. I got my first camera from my father, a Canon eos 500D, and my father was teaching me as he was into photography as well. Besides, I started to teach myself through various ways as photography was something I wanted to continue with. For instance, I search for inspiration in other photographers, but also within myself.
I use every free minute to experience unforgettable moments and to take pictures meanwhile. My friends play an important role in here as they make the unforgettable moments even better. I like to share my enthusiasm for the mountains and nature not just with my friends, but also with other people. That is why I like to share my pictures online with my audience, hoping that they can understand the experience. I often sell the photos of very special moments as limited editions on my website, so these moments retain their specialty.
I guess I often use cold and dark colors, which marks my photos with my passion for Winter. I particularly like that nature can take fascinating shapes because of the snow and ice. Also, in Summer it often gets busy in many places while in winter, many places are less crowded. The only disadvantage is that all lakes are frozen.
The weather plays an important role in photography as it is so unpredictable. You can never plan the picture you have in mind. That is why photography taught me to be patient; I am waiting for a specific picture for three years now. It doesn’t bother me a lot though, because I enjoy every moment that I can be outside. I don’t mind waiting or getting up early without coming back with the picture I hoped for. It’s not just about taking pictures.
There are so many amazing places in this world and I see myself discovering and capturing many more than I have already done. Since I was little, my biggest dream is to go to Greenland / Spitsbergen. Also, I will definitely go back to Iceland and Canada again. For me, there is no real bucket list. Every place has something special.
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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