AMOS NACHOUM IS a big man. Not in a strapping, ex-marine kind of way. But his soul is big, his heart and his passion; these are what make Amos such an inspiring and “large” person to be around.

While growing up in Israel, Amos sometimes found communicating with people difficult, but his life was transformed when he picked up a camera at the age of 12. He discovered a way of expressing thoughts and feelings which would carry him forward into adulthood and become a way of life. Photography fills his blank canvas, his empty page, although anyone who has been thrilled by his talks will know that he also mastered some impressive speaking skills along the way.

Amos Nachoum is President of Big Animals Expeditions, the adventure organisation he set up in 1992. Often referred to as the “Ambassador of Big Animals”, these days he is a photographer, explorer and guide. Over the years, he has had the honour of leading many great expeditions for individual adventurers and also institutions like Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Discovery Channel, Armani, Disney, Colombia Pictures and of course, National Geographic, with whom he was team leader for separate photo expeditions to document the Red Sea, great white sharks and killer whales.

Amos runs big animal tours where small groups of adventurers join him on life-changing photographic expeditions with polar bears, leopard seals, sperm whales, and more. Wherever there are big animals, Amos has been there or is planning to go to capture their images and share them with the world. “Big animals are usually portrayed as dangerous or frightening; my mission is to show their beauty, grace and essence,” Amos explains. I managed to catch up with Amos between his many tours.

How did you get started in photography?