Born &   raised in the Netherland, my   passion   for   wildlife photography   started   while studying in South Africa. This is hardly suprising,   as   SA   is   teeming     with   national     parks   and large game.   A small     camera and "point   & shoot" was enough to get some impressive   photo`s.   However, only  when I and  my  wife  moved to Northampton, UK did  I really  get a chance to develop  my  skills in wildlife photography. By chance I met some   birders at a local  nature reserve, called Summerleys and   started   chatting   to a certain Richard Bedford. He  is a fantastic English bird photographer and  convinced  me that I  needed a bigger  and  better  camera. Soon I was hooked and  now I  am obsessed with  getting  the "ultimate" shot.
 
Networks on the  internet  where  people comment on each  other`s  pictures  has been a  great   way   to   improve. As   a result, I  am no longer  content  with grey record-shots    but  rather try  to get  close  and get more   colourfull images. I  always  aim  to create  an image with   strong , natural  colours and  only  photograph in the wild. Photography allows me  to  discover  the natural beauty that surrounds us  and  reminds   me that     there   is more   to this   planet   then our man-made   world. Maybe this   is just   escapism, but it   works   for   me.
 
 
 
In 2009   we moved  to South  Africa, where I   now  live  with   my   wife in Port  Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape. With   over  900 birdspecies in the  country, many  of  which  endemic, and  5  different biomes meeting  around  Port Elizabeth, there is plenty   to   do. Already in just  over a year`s time, I  have photographed more then 260 different  birds and adding more  every trip. The Addo elephant park is right on our doorstep and you  can find  me there  most  weekends (unfortunately  I  still have  to work!)
 
Thanks   for   visiting,
 
Matthijs Ravensberg
 
All pictures  on this  website  : copyright M.F. Ravensberg
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