Peter Haygarth’s beautiful photographs have been published in newspapers around the world and in the National History Museums in Paris and London.
Now he’s looking forward to his exhibition entitled Wild Africa at contemporary art gallery, Gallerina, in Darlington from June 13.
Peter, 62, of Bishop Auckland, has been obsessed with African wildlife since he was a boy, spending his pocket money on animal figures and being glued to television programmes such as Tarzan and Daktari.
While working for Durham Police, firstly as a firearms officer and then a firearms instructor, he studied for a City and Guilds in Photography at Bishop Auckland College.
His first trip to Africa was in 2007, to the Masai Mara, in Kenya, during the wildebeest migration followed by travels to places such as Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It was at the Zimanga Private Game Reserve, in South Africa, that he captured one of the best shots of his career.
“It was an encounter between a cheetah and a pack of wild dogs. It was incredible,” he says.
The raw and powerful image ended up receiving a Highly Commended in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, run by the Natural History Museum, in London. It was one of a hundred selected from 48,000 entries and one of 18 displayed subsequently in the state room at Number 10 Downing Street.
While that picture was taken from the relative safety of a vehicle, Peter admits he’s had a few incidents that have caused his heart to ‘skip a beat’. As well as patience, a knowledge of animal behaviour has served him well over the years.
“It’s important you sit and watch and get an idea of its behaviour so you can second guess the type of photograph you’re going to get,” he says.
“But a wild animal is still unpredictable. I’ve been mock charged (a warning charge) a couple of times by elephants. The sensible thing then is to back off and give them space. For me, it’s always about the animal. The last thing I ever want to do is upset them or interfere with their behaviour. I’d rather miss the shot than do that.”
Since retiring from the police, Peter has become a qualified drone operator and videographer. He’s shot Premiership football for four years, filmed in Morocco for BBC’s Top Gear and is the official photographer for Kynren, the outdoor stage spectacular in Bishop Auckland. But Africa is where his heart lies.
Richard Hindle, Gallerina’s owner, says:
“Peter’s work has an authenticity and passion which transports us. These incredible creatures surviving a changing world show why life on earth is so awe inspiring. The atmosphere, power and tenderness combined with his undimmed boyhood passion have made for an incredible exhibition. Framed with careful consideration, the work looks stunning.”
Peter added:
“I hope it will inspire some people to pick up a camera and go and see it for themselves, because it’s life changing,” he says.
“To see that kind of wildlife in its natural habitat is a beautiful thing.”
