Photography by Gabriel Haering
Photography has been part of my life for more than fifty years.
What began with black-and-white film, a camera and my own darkroom gradually became a lifelong exploration of wildlife, landscapes, cities, cultures and the relationship between light, atmosphere and place.
Africa has played a central role in shaping my photographic vision, but it is not the only subject of my work. My photographs have been created during journeys across Africa, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, recording both the natural world and the character of the places I encounter.
My work is presented through three dedicated photographic collections: African wildlife and landscapes in colour, Africa interpreted in black and white, and travel photography from destinations beyond the African continent.
A Personal Way of Seeing
My approach to photography is based on patience, observation and curiosity.
I am drawn to the moments in which light, behaviour, atmosphere and composition come together naturally. Sometimes this may be a powerful wildlife encounter. At other times, it can be a quiet landscape, an architectural detail, a street scene or a brief interaction that reveals something about a place.
I prefer to allow a scene to develop rather than impose myself upon it. This is particularly important when photographing wildlife and people, where respect, distance and sensitivity are essential.
The subjects may change, but the underlying objective remains the same: to create photographs that express more than a simple record of what stood in front of the camera.
One Photographer, Different Visual Languages
The three collections represent different aspects of my photographic work, but they are connected by the same principles.
Colour photography allows me to preserve the atmosphere, environment and changing natural tones of a place.
Black-and-white photography offers a more interpretative language, reducing an image to light, shadow, texture, structure and emotional presence.
Travel photography beyond Africa broadens the subject matter to include cities, architecture, landscapes, cultures and the visual details that give each destination its identity.
These are not separate photographic identities. They are different ways of observing and interpreting the world.
Africa in Colour
Colour is an essential part of the experience of travelling through Africa.
The warmth of early morning light, the muted tones of the dry season, the deep greens following the rains and the changing colours of sky, water and landscape all shape the atmosphere of an image.
My dedicated colour portfolio brings together wildlife, landscapes and moments of travel photographed during repeated journeys through Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The galleries are organised by country, national park and wildlife subject. Together, they document not only Africa’s iconic animals, but also the habitats, weather, light and quieter moments that define each journey.
Africa in Black & White
Black and white was my first photographic language.
Working with film and producing prints in my own darkroom taught me to pay close attention to light, shadow, contrast, structure and composition before pressing the shutter.
Removing colour changes how a photograph is perceived. Attention shifts towards form, texture, expression and the relationship between the subject and the surrounding space.
An elephant becomes a study of strength, memory and surface. Zebra stripes become rhythm and abstraction. A solitary tree or distant horizon can express scale, silence and isolation.
My black-and-white portfolio presents a personal interpretation of African wildlife and landscapes through monochrome photography.
Photography Beyond Africa
Africa has deeply influenced my photographic vision, but my interest in photography extends much further.
My journeys have also taken me through Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, where I have photographed landscapes, cities, architecture, natural environments, cultural details and moments of everyday life.
These images range from historic European streets and Mediterranean architecture to deserts, forests, coastlines, temples and modern cities.
The Not Only Africa portfolio brings these different journeys together. Each gallery is a personal visual account of a place, shaped by its light, atmosphere, colours and character.
Rather than attempting to document everything, I select photographs that communicate how a destination felt and what made it visually distinctive.
From Viewing Photography to Experiencing It
Much of my African wildlife work has been created through repeated journeys and extended time in the field.
For photographers who would like to experience this process personally, I also accompany small photographic safaris in Tanzania. These journeys combine wildlife observation, generous time in the field and practical photographic guidance.