Life Altering Moment
From the moment my feet hit the rich red soil of Africa I was changed. The sights, the smells, the sounds, the raw and wild spaces; it was a magic that filled my soul in a way nothing ever had. Days later, in the heart of the Serengeti, sitting in a mobile tent camp surrounded by the greatest migration in the world I sat in awe and said to myself, “ I am going to be a wildlife photographer and live one year of my life in Africa.” This statement was quite bold or rather naive, as I had never even used a professional camera before the one I bought for this vacation. Nonetheless, I began to dream of a life in Africa.
Roaming Africa’s Wilds
Chasing the extraordinary, roaming Africa’s wilds, became the oxygen to my soul for the past 17 years; capturing it as I experience it. My journey into photography was not one of a trained professional that plans out a collection in advance and shoots in a location over a few quick weeks, but rather on of following the heart. These collections were developed slowly over the years while spending countless hours in the field roaming the real African bush; passionately intrigued by the behavior of the wildlife, creating deep lifelong friendships with the communities, and learning all I could about this magical continent.
Piper Mackay has been roaming Africa’s wilds since 2004; capturing the journey as she lived it.
The collections
Overwhelmed by the reckless beauty, the early years were captured in vivid color. As the world changed rapidly with technology, she developed a sophisticated monochromatic style retracing her footsteps to create images with a powerful glimpse into the raw and wild lands she first explored.
On her solo remote expeditions, she has spent countless hours in the tribal communities developing deep, lifelong friendships. Roaming the wilds in her own Landrover, endless days were spent in the bush, passionately intrigued by the behavior of the wildlife and ecosystems. Through her endless dedication, she has earned her place as one of Africa’s leading fine art photographers. She remains committed to preserving traditions and wildlife, not only in photographs, but so they can remain thriving and free.
