Exciting changes!! Introducing some very talented photographers!

Last year I began teaming up with some very talented photographers who I have great admiration for. As both my photography and safari business began to grow, it was becoming very difficult to juggle it all. If I were to take on new projects or add new trips, it would mean something would have to go. When you put years of hard work, passion, and dedication into something, it is hard to make the compromise to give something up in order to move forward. Therefore, several years back, I began the search of adding to my team rather than giving anything up.

It was important to find passionate accomplished photographers who were dedicated to their craft, cared deeply for and respected their subjects, had great people and leadership skills, and whose work I greatly admired. I was looking to find partners that added skill value to my clients. Although I am constantly investing in my own skills, it is hard for anyone to master one, let alone them all, when technology is always rapidly changing and you are on the road more than half of the year. As I am known to be quite picky, this has not been an easy task, but then it all seemed to come together.

Meet Ben McRae

Australian based, but with roots in South Africa, he spends 4-6 months each year in Africa. Not only does he specialize in the tribal areas; he is brilliant at capturing wildlife and the beautiful African landscapes.

He has won numerous international awards, most notably he was a runner-up in the National Georgic World Nomads Scholarship 2015, Getty Images RePicture award 2015, Sony World Photo of the year – runner up, 2015. He is also the Canon Getaway Gallery Photographer of the year in 2014, Independent Newspaper/Wonderlust Travel Photographer of the year 2013, Shutterbug Award Winner 2012, and a finalist for the past four years in the prestigious Travel Photographer of the Year competition.

He only leads one or two of his own trips each year to Namibia. In 2018 he is leading the Tribes of the Omo – SOLD OUT– for Piper Mackay Photo Safaris  and will again lead the Tribes of the Omo in 2019! I am honored. I know that any of you joining him are going to have an experience of a lifetime!

Meet Wim
Born in South Africa and coming from a family who loved nature and photography, Wim practically grew up roaming the wilds of the bush. With over 25 years of experience and winning numerous awards, including placing in the prestigious BCC Wildlife Photography of the Year and Nature’s Best Photography contests several times, Wim has established himself as one of the top wildlife photographers in South Africa.

Wim has been leading photographic safaris and workshops for more than a decade.

His eagerness to teach and his friendly nature ensure that workshop participants receive a wonderful experience. Our Botswana Safaris have SOLD OUT for the past 3 years and the Botswana Exclusive safari is filling up quickly for 2019. We are working on some new safaris together in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia for 2020.

He shoots with Nikon.

Meet Shivang Mehta
A former journalist and PR professional, Shivang Mehta is now one of the most successful and highly-respected wildlife photographers in India. His recent book, A Decade with Tigers, is enjoying worldwide success. He has won numerous awards, most notably Nature’s Best: Asia 2017, International Photographer of the Year (2016), DJ Memorial Photography Awards (2014 and 2015) NDTV Save our Tigers (2012), and Sanctuary Asia (2011). He is a Canon-sponsored photographer and mentor.

Shivang has spent thousands of hours in the wildlife reserves throughout India and has run well over 100 wildlife safaris and workshops. As colleagues, we have photographed side by side in the Maasai Mara for many years. We started co-leading wildlife safaris this past year in India, our India Wildlife and Tiger Safari and Kaziranga extension for 2019 is SOLD OUT and we are already scheming some new safaris for 2020.

Meet Greg Thomason

Greg Thomason is an established commercial head-shot photographer running assignments for Peter Hurley, one of the biggest well-known portrait photographers in the world. With a long background in security, throughout the world, particularly in the Middle East, his knowledge of the Arabic language brings about a lot of extra value when leading international tours.

Greg first teamed up with me last year to co-lead the very successful Sprit-N-Light it up workshop. As we all know, light is the most powerful element in an image, and using speed lights (flash), is more important than ever. Greg brings the technical side to teaching flash in a simple fashion. He not only has great people skills, but he puts his subjects immediately at ease. If you enjoy photographing people around the world, having both these skills; flash and putting your subject at ease, is critical to your success.

Greg joined me at the Holi Festival last year and is leading the Holi Festival Tour in 2019. He is also co-leading the Chad Festival Tour with me in 2019. Most importantly, he will be teaching the flash part of the Spirit-N-Light it up workshop which we have now moved to one of the best and biggest ranches in Wyoming. You can see the details and read the past participants’ reviews here.

LASTLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY

Meet Abigeal Wangui

Abigeal is not a photographer, but the most important member of my team. She is my incredible assistant and logistics coordinator who joined Piper Mackay Photo Safaris about 18 months ago and has been able to help make all of this possible! Earning a degree in Tourism and receiving her training from one of the best safari companies in Kenya, I was most blessed to find her!

From the moment a participant signs up for a safari, trip, or workshop, she warmly welcomes you. She is there for all your questions and handles all the important details, including any pre or post extension requests. She does her best to respond to all your emails within 24 hours of a working business day. She also collaborates with all our overseas partners, keeping them up to date with all the details and request of our clients. She is involved with the logistics from the beginning plans of a new adventure, so she is very knowledgeable about every detail. I promise you will feel very well taken care of.

DO NOT WORRY, I am not looking to grow my business into a company offering a huge amount of trips to every hot destination in the world, turning out volume, but rather I will continue to offer high-value photographic experiences where I have invested a solid amount of time establishing a great ground team and relationships; mostly in Africa and some in India. Along with Abigeal and with a few talented photographers helping, I can explore new destinations and continue to create extraordinary experiences, such as Chad. I am offering the Gerewol Festival of the Wodaabe next year (2019) and will be adding some wildlife destinations in 2020, and hopefully the north by 2021. I will be exploring Angola for almost a month, this July, after four years of research!

I hope you are as excited about these changes as I am. I am honored and humbled to have such talented photographers and people working with me to bring you incredible, life-changing experiences.