No Skips, All Personality

Sometimes I sit outside the Angama Photographic Studio and think about life before the bush, those days of warehouse sets filled with flowers and vintage TVs, radios and lesos cascading from the ceiling like waterfalls. I remember driving for hours, even across countries, all to tell stories.   

I've learnt a lot about storytelling through shorts, documentaries, and advertising. Years of crafting and pitching narratives taught me the art of distilling emotion into 30 seconds, finding that perfect frame that makes someone stop scrolling. It trained my eye, taught me to work fast, and create with impact with limited time and few resources. What a doozy it was… 

Then came an opportunity I didn't see coming: Angama needed someone to create stories that mattered. Stories of home, care and responsibility. A place where the narrative was the client. Different medium, same core skill: making people feel something through a lens, bringing Angama’s story to life on screen.   

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I wanted to be here long before I got here. 

Pointing a camera at an elephant isn’t enough. Angama needed storytellers who could capture the spirit of a scene, to transform footage into something that evokes the wonder of the bush, the constant smiles and goodwill of the staff, and the magic of the locations. 

Every sunrise and sunset feels like a movie. Even the rain has a spectacular quality. The soil reacts differently, rich and raw like an unspoken love. Every animal has a personality. Each time, I’m learning new visual language, one written in light, dust, and the poetry of wild things. 

Life as a videographer in the bush is fantastic, but comes with challenges. Rain may be wonderful, but it doesn’t care about my shot list or schedule. It shows up when it wants, stays as long as it wishes and isn’t so romantic when you’re trying to protect expensive gear.   

The animals have their own agendas. Birds fly the moment I nail focus.  After three hours tracking a leopard, it turns and shows me nothing but tail. A hyena once laughed at my technical difficulties.   

It gets messy and shaky, but it’s real. Hopefully, my edits can touch it up to look smoother.   

Every lodge has its own pulse and tale to tell, and I'm happy to tell Angama’s. It’s not just the breathtaking scenery or the wildlife. It’s the Maasai warriors, who are my friends and colleagues, who are more than just subjects in a frame; they’re heroes. 

It’s the Beading and Weaving Mamas sharing their souls through craft and culture.  The Tent Stewards and Butlers ensure guests feel genuinely delighted and cared for. The Guides whose skill still amazes me. It’s the Photography Team capturing memories. And the Marketing Team, behind the scenes. Stitching storylines together. They’re all part of this splendid lodge. 

So, armed with my trusty Sony A7SIII and enough batteries to survive the apocalypse. I strive to be a collector of moments, crafting through lights and shadows, editing through frustration and joy. It’s a happy space, no skips, all personality.