As a dedicated conservationist and wildlife photographer, Peter Chadwick has worked throughout southern Africa in some of its most special wild places. Working across these diverse habitats has allowed him to gain vast experience in all aspects of conservation management where photography is a natural extension to his work. This allows numerous opportunities to capture wildlife pictures that showcase the beauty and complexity of the outdoors. He believes that “through a photograph we have the ability to capture a moment of time, that if correctly composed can influence the way that we respond, think and act”. Peter aims to take compelling wildlife images that communicate the key values of the environment, showcasing its benefits and highlighting the need for the protection of our fragile earth. www.peterchadwick.co.za

Based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, freelance photographer and writer, Roger de la Harpe, has over the years made frequent excursions into various regions of the African continent. With a passion for natural history, wild places and different cultures, his work has featured in numerous publications around the world, most notably BBC Wildlife, Geo and National Geographic.  Previously employed as a ranger and photographer by the Natal Parks Board (now Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife), Roger turned professional in 1997 and has never looked back. He ans his wife Pat have published some 19 coffee table books, including Zulu, Top Touring Spots of South Africa, Tuli-Land of Giants and their latest book, In Search of the African Wild Dog. They also run popular photographic workshops, in both their hometown of Howick , at Baines’ River Camp in Zambia, in the Kruger National Park and now also in Botswana.   www.africaimagery.com

Dominique has nearly 20 years of media experience – as a writer, magazine editor, book publisher, web content manager, television presenter and photographic agent. Her company, Moonshine Media, consults on the production of media from conceptualization to publication — from publishing strategy and business models, to training and mentoring of writers and photographers, origination of words and images, commissioning of service providers to delivery and marketing of the finished product. www.moonshinemedia.co.za

Cameron Ewart-Smith is currently editor in chief of Getaway, Africa’s longest standing travel magazine. Previously Cameron served as editor of Wild magazine. He has an MSC in Marine Biology from the University of Cape Town and his photographs and articles have been widely published both in South Africa and oversees. Cameron is based in Cape Town and is passionate about the environment and in particular is a strong advocate of the importance of tourism in conservation and rural development. www.getaway.co.za

Tali’s PhD on baboon conservation on the Cape Peninsula included engaging in public debates, workshops and education sessions. This experience, together with her fairly eclectic career history (university lecturer, TV documentary presenter, tour guide), has enabled her to grapple with conservation issues with scientists, environmental authorities, local communities, tourists and students. Consequently, she has come to believe that successful conservation relies on the marriage of strong science, public education and public involvement.  At the start of2012 she took on the challenge of managing MammalMAP.  Its aim is to improve our knowledge and understanding of where Africa’s mammals occur in the 21st Century, so that we can make better informed management and conservation decisions at the species and continent levels. Absolutely anyone anywhere can get involved by submitting their African mammal photographs to the Mammal MAP database. In this way, every one of us can play an integral part in ensuring that the animals we love to photograph survive into the future. www.mammalmap.adu.org.za

Born in Germany – Horst Klemm started his career studying Graphic Design in Stuttgart and soon discovered his talent for photography. Driven by his longing for the golden age of adventure he became the classical traveller. For more than 40 years he photographed in the most remote parts of the World, feeling equally at home in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the Amazon or the Arabian Desert. Challenged by Africa’s cultures, landscapes and wildlife he settled in South Africa 38 years ago and began his career in the field of advertising photography – winning numerous awards.  His true passion, however, is nature and its immense diversity of wildlife. His fine art work depicting the rural communities, landscapes and wildlife is noted for his meticulous attention to detail, form and lighting.  His first book “An African Journal” is a unique reflection on the spirit of Africa. Other publications are “Elephants for Africa” and “A Celebration” a book featuring South African National Parks. www.horstklemm.com

Born in Kenya, Cheryl-Samantha Owen is a photographer and writer based in East Africa. Her passion for conservation is reflected in the evocative images that she creates. Sam studied and worked within the conservation biology field before turning to photography, when she realized that her photographs could speak louder than her statistics. She holds a BSc in Environmental Science from Imperial College, London and an MSc in Conservation Biology at the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute, University of Cape Town.  Sam has lived in Africa for most of her life, and her work with Fauna and Flora International, Conservation International and the Save Our Seas Foundation has taken her across the continent and along its oceans and coasts, including expeditions to the remote Aldabra Atoll and Tana River Delta.  In June 2012 the International Conservation Photography Awards honoured Sam with 1st Prize for documenting a conservation project for her work on seabirds. In 2009 she received the Fujifilm Photographic Underwater Award for her work on the sharks of Aldabra. Sam is currently spearheading a photographic campaign to protect some of Kenya’s last coastal wilderness, where the rich biodiversity and traditional cultures are under threat. www.samowenphotography.com

Thomas is a contributing photographer to National Geographic Magazine and a Fellow of the ILCP (International League of Conservation Photographers) and . He leads a near continuous nomadic existence and spends 300 days per year in the field on assignments around the world. He was recently named as one of the 40 most influential nature photographers in the world. He trained as a marine biologist but retired from science to pursue a life dedicated to environmental photojournalism after realizing that he could have a bigger conservation impact with his photographs than statistics. A dedicated conservation photographer he believes strongly that photographs are one of the most effective weapons in conservation today. His feature story on manta rays of the Maldives appeared in National Geographic magazine in 2009 and resulted in the proclamation of a marine reserve and protection for these rays. He is presently spearheading campaigns to make marine reserves more effective in Africa, stop unsustainable shark fisheries and raise awareness of manta ray conservation. Thomas is a multiple winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards and in 2011 he received a World Press Photo Award for his work. www.thomaspeschak.com

Michael is the Managing Director of Green Renaissance Productions. After obtaining a BSc in Environmental Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town, he worked for both Cambridge University and the (IUCN) World Conservation Union where he established the global film unit.  He has been working in the television industry since 2003, and has directed and produced over 150 films to date. His work has been shown on Discovery, BBC and National Geographic and his work has won numerous awards including the SAB Environmental Journalist 2010 Merit Award in South Africa. Michael is passionate about Nature – the motto at Green Renaissance is “Inspired by Nature” this is what drives Michael and his team to encourage others daily to affect change. www.greenrenaissance.co.za

Scott is a freelance photojournalist focusing on conservation and protected areas in Southern Africa. He has recently completed a project entitled Year in the Wild, travelling to 31 of South Africa’s most special nature reserves, including all the national parks. Through photography and writing, Scott tells the story of these places, why they are important and how they are protected by the rangers, communities, ecologists, researchers and volunteers. www.yearinthewild.com

With a passion to take photographs that change people’s perspectives and open their eyes, Karin Schermbrucker spends most of her time traveling the African continent drinking tea and sharing. It was actually on a 10 month trip through East Africa with UNICEF in 2005, documenting community projects in over 14 different countries, that the bug bit, and her career as a photographer began.  Her long unpronounceable surname is frequently seen next to her photos in a number of publications including Wild Magazine, Getaway, Bicycling, Runner’s World, and Ride. She has put her gear and body on the line as the photographer on the Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race, The PnP Argus Cycle tour, and the Two Oceans. In 2009, she set up Photography for Change as a platform that uses photography to help children in challenging circumstances to realize once again who they are and what they are capable of. “Giving a child a camera, is like giving an explorer a compass… who knows what lands they will discover!”  As a ‘dreamer of the day’, Karin remains passionate about taking pictures that reflect something bigger than herself. “I see my camera as a bridge, which has the capacity to cross the divide that sometimes exists between people of different cultures, classes, languages and beliefs and I have had my eyes opened in the process…”  www.slingshotmedia.co.za

South Africa based photographer, Heinrich van den Berg specializes in nature, environmental and travel photography. He has spent many years in the field, capturing images of African wildlife and the natural beauty of the continent.  He has won numerous international photographic awards and his photographs grace numerous books, calendars, magazine portfolios and photographic products worldwide. Van den Berg’s photographs are known for breaking boundaries and depicting the natural world in a fresh and evocative way.  Although he specializes in environmental photography, Van den Berg has a gift for photographing the charm and idiosyncrasies of people in their natural environment.  He has photographed and published 19 highly acclaimed photographic books and is intimately involved with the reproduction and printing process – from the colour correction to the design and final production of his sought-after wildlife books. He is the founder of the publishing company HPH Publishing. www.heinrichvandenberg.com

Riaan is Art Director of Wild magazine, amongst others, and has spent the past 10 years designing and directing various local and international customer and consumer magazines. He was art director for Weg/Go! before moving to Wild five years ago.  He has considered millions of images for publication and has the difficult task of selecting the few that will make it into each issue. He’s passionate about print and loves crafting pages that tell interesting stories.  A keen photographer himself, he uses a trustworthy 10.3 megapixel Sony R1. Perhaps an odd choice – but when you shoot RAW anything is possible. He can’t wait for the iPhone app that will allow him to shoot RAWs with his phone.  He has fond memories (and scars) of trying to get black and white film from a Pentax K1000 onto reels for development.  http://www.wildcard.co.za/wild_magazine.html

Based on Malilangwe Reserve in Zimbabwe, Kim Wolhuter lives out his passion and is driven by filmmaking and photography to create an international awareness on wildlife and conservation issues. Kim was born into a family of wildlife rangers: both his father and grandfather worked in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. His Grandfather became a legend after killing an adult male lion with his knife after it dragged him from his horse. Permanently in the field, Kim spends long periods of time getting up close and personal with his subjects. Over time they come to totally accept his company. What he then documents is purely natural behaviour, completely unaffected by his presence. These up close and intimate encounters are a trademark of his work through which he creates an awareness for Africa’s wildlife, and more specifically endangered species. Kim’s films and photographs have garnered many awards, including several Emmy Awards. His work has been broadcast and published mainly with National Geographic.   www.kimwolhuter.com