Ben Mcrae is a photographer based out of Wollongong on the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Whilst he is at home he works as an Ocean Lifeguard. His full time occupation allows him plenty of time off during the Australian winter to follow his real passion in photography, capturing the various aspects of Africa.
“I’m intrigued by the wide open expanses that harbor so many hidden secrets, it’s beautiful landscapes, dangerous and varied wildlife and the diminishing cultures that all exist in such close proximity to one another. It is so different to our lives here in the western world, that I now actually feel more comfortable among the wilds of Africa and the various tribes I visit than I do in my own town. I now feel myself longing to be back in the harsh realities of Africa anytime I am away from it”.
Ben’s regular travel to Africa and his subsequent photographic journeys have seen him drive thousands upon thousands of kilometres through all of southern and eastern Africa in search of that perfect image. His obsession with Africa began when his relatives picked him up to go on a surfing holiday down the South African Coast. Little did he know that his relatives had something else in mind. He was swept into the fabulous Natal National Parks, and after a few hours, he was chased by a bull Elephant. He knew then he had a new focus in his life, and since then has returned to his mother’s homeland on an annual basis.
Ben’s images have recently seen him become awarded with a number of International awards, most notably runner-up in the National Geographic World Nomads Scholarship 2015, Independent Newspaper / Wanderlust Travel Photographer of the Year 2013 (UK), Shutterbug Award Winner 2012 (AUS), Named as Australia’s Top Emerging Photographer in 2012, winner of the Canon Getaway Gallery Photograph of the year in 2014 (ZAR), Getty Images #RePicture award 2015 (UK), Runner up in Australia Sony World Photo of the year 2015 (AUS) and being a finalist for the past seven years in the prestigious Travel Photographer Of The Year Award (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 UK).
