Zambia: Life, Fun and Wildlife - Mike Taylor

Last night we were delighted to welcome back Mike Taylor, one of our visiting judges, who took us on a colourful journey through Zambia with his talk, Zambia: Life, Fun and Wildlife.

Mike and his wife spent two and a half years volunteering in local schools in the Ndola area, and his presentation gave us a fascinating glimpse not just of Zambia’s wildlife, but of everyday life and the people and places they encountered during their time there.

We saw photographs from around their home, including some of the wildlife that visited their garden, as well as images of the schools and the people Mike and his wife worked alongside. These were complimented by photographs from trips to Zambia’s national parks, where the focus shifted to the country’s spectacular wildlife and the behaviour he was able to capture in its natural habitat.

There was a wonderful variety of images throughout the evening, with Mike’s photographs capturing the characters (human and animal!) and their interactions and behaviours. The painted dogs were a particular highlight for me, but just as memorable were Mike’s stories and infectious enthusiasm for the country, which brought the photographs to life.

A fascinating evening and a great reminder of just how much there is to photograph when you spend time somewhere and get to know its people, places and wildlife.

Emma