Pietie the “Piet ma vrou”

I will never forget this moment.

I’m not sure whether it was finally getting my own camera or the opportunity that nature presented to me, but something shifted.

My photography focuses mainly on letting nature speak. I’ve been blessed with many experiences so far, but this one was the fire that lit the spark in me — the moment I truly fell in love with it.

After getting my camera, I planned to spend two weeks visiting my grandparents. Those two weeks turned into me quietly following this poor bird around — though I like to believe he didn’t mind my presence too much. I remember my grandad and I spotting him, then moments later watching a Cape Robin-Chat feeding it. That’s when it clicked.

For those who don’t know: most cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and let nature to take its course, letting those birds raise their young. In this case, it was this tiny Cape Robin-Chat.

During that time of “stalking,” I really got the chance to learn my camera and slowly build my skills. And I simply soaked up my favourite place in the world — nature.