stories begin at EYE LEVEL

ALTHOUGH I HAVE been taking photographs since 1998, it wasn't until 2019 that my hobby evolved into a serious pursuit. That's when I began to see photography not just as a means of capturing a moment, but as a form of art - something that can stir emotion, spark wonder and tell a deeper story.

- TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHS THINUS VAN STADEN

With so many gifted bird photographers out there, I often ask myself, 'What can I do differently? How do I develop a style that's truly my own?'

I believe there are two ways to stand out. One is to travel far and wide in search of the rare and spectacular. The other is to find wonder in the familiar, to create extraordinary images of ordinary birds, right where you are. That's where I have chosen to focus most of my energy.