Speaker: Scott Hurd – Living and Working as a Professional Photographer in Namibia

Scott took his first photographic steps at four and has been glued to his camera ever since.  As a schoolboy he avidly studied the photography in the glossy magazines while on his paper round.  It was a natural step to study art at college where he soon found that people would pay him to do what he loved – take photographs.

Having developed his teaching and presenting skills at the sharpest end of the UK education system Scott set up a company presenting motivational, inspirational and confidence building events.  Later, with retirement looming, he used his own motivational techniques to reinvent himself.  He and his wife moved to Otjiwarongo, a small town in the African bush; a totally different world.The open spaces, wildlife and people were what initially drew him to Namibia.  He had expected to be involved mainly in Lodge and Hotel publicity work, to have the occasional wedding or baby shoot and maybe to sell a few photos, but, as one of the few photographers in the country, he completely failed to anticipate the diverse and fascinating work that flooded in.   

As a professional photographer in Namibia, he never knows what the next phone call will bring. He could be training anti-poaching units out in the bush, photographing aged freedom fighters or shooting a President. He could be camped out in the desert doing ID photos of Wild Horses, covering a big tribal wedding or working with rescued pangolins. One of his most unexpected and exciting projects has been to document the construction of a brand new mine, from virgin bush to the first gold bar.  His knowledge of African wildlife has enabled his images to spearhead major conservation campaigns and be used in publications worldwide.  This is what his talks, from the edge of the oldest desert in world, are based on. 

The content of Scott’s presentations is as diverse as the Namibian people, the wildlife and the land itself.  Camera technique in these very different, sometimes arduous and often extreme conditions is also covered and questions are encouraged throughout.  This is an Africa that visitors can only guess at. 

Website:www.h4urd.co.uk
Wildlife and Scenery Galleries:https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/315793.html
Conservation:https://www.h4urd.co.uk/?page_id=2274
Scott’s Résumé: https://www.h4urd.co.uk/?page_id=1909
Facebook:  Scott Hurd – Photography, Training and Speaking