Photography has changed the way I see the world. It has taken me into rainforests before sunrise, beneath the ocean’s surface and across frozen landscapes in search of wildlife. More than anything, it has taught me to pay attention.
A movement in the canopy. A call from somewhere beyond the track. A brief encounter that might last only seconds, yet stay with me for years.
These are the moments I travel for.
From the corporate world to the natural world
For much of my adult life, my attention was on building businesses, solving technology problems and navigating financial markets. On my 45th birthday in 2019, I stepped away from corporate life and gave myself more freedom to explore.
The curiosity that had driven my professional life found a different direction. I wanted to discover unfamiliar places, understand the wildlife that lived there and become a better photographer along the way.
My background still shapes how I approach photography. Research, preparation and persistence matter. So does knowing when to put the plan aside, sit quietly and see what happens.
Wildlife, I have discovered, has very little interest in my itinerary.
A year devoted to Australian birds
In 2022, I set myself a challenge: spend a year travelling across Australia and its territories, finding and photographing as many bird species as I could.
By the end of my Australian Big Year, I had seen 774 species and photographed 772.
Behind those numbers were early starts, long journeys, missed opportunities and encounters that made every effort worthwhile. Some birds appeared almost immediately. Others required patience, repeated visits and a generous tolerance for disappointment.
The experience deepened my appreciation of Australia’s extraordinary birdlife and the people who know it so well. It also left me with a familiar thought at the end of each journey: there is always one more bird.
Explore my Australian Big Year →
Looking beyond the checklist
Finding a new species is exciting, particularly one I have spent years hoping to see. But identification is only the beginning.
I want my photographs to reveal something about an animal’s character, behaviour or place in the landscape. Sometimes that means a close portrait. Sometimes the stronger image shows how small an animal is within its surroundings.
A snow leopard among mountain rocks. A bird briefly emerging from dense forest. Marine life moving through a world that feels entirely different from our own.
I am drawn to these encounters because they cannot be fully controlled. Preparation creates an opportunity. The animal decides what happens next.
The people behind the photographs
Many of my most memorable encounters have been possible because of local guides, trackers, boat crews and fellow birders.
Their knowledge reaches far beyond a location on a map. They recognise calls, understand seasonal changes and notice details that a visitor could easily miss. Time spent with them has shaped both my photography and my understanding of the places I visit.
A photograph may carry my name, but the journey behind it often includes many people.
Photography with a purpose
The more time I spend in wild places, the more closely photography and conservation become connected for me.
I have experienced the excitement of finding rare wildlife, but also the sadness of seeing habitat cleared and birds trapped for trade. Those experiences influence the stories I want to tell.
A photograph cannot protect a forest on its own. It can, however, help someone notice what lives there and understand why it matters. Through my images and writing, I hope to encourage that connection.
I also believe responsibly managed wildlife tourism can give local communities a lasting reason to protect the habitats around them. The guides, families and conservation groups doing this work deserve recognition and support.
The next chapters
There is still a great deal I want to explore.
Pittas hold a particular fascination for me. Their colours are extraordinary, their forest habitats are captivating, and their ability to remain invisible at close range is occasionally quite unreasonable. Finding and photographing more of these birds remains a personal ambition.
I also want to spend more time documenting lesser known species, threatened habitats and the people working to protect them. Alongside new expeditions, I plan to share more of the stories behind my photographs through articles, presentations and books.
Not every story will be about a rare sighting. Some will be about the search, the people I meet or the days when nothing goes to plan. Those experiences belong in the story too.
Travel and photography with me
For those who share this curiosity, I am available for selected private wildlife journeys, photography expeditions and commissioned assignments.
My approach is personal and carefully considered, with attention to wildlife interests, photographic goals, comfort and discretion. Each journey begins with a conversation about what would make the experience meaningful.
Discover Travel with Charuka →
Come and see what caught my eye.
Explore photographs of birds, wildlife, underwater encounters and landscapes from my travels.