Richard Garvey-Williams is a wildlife and landscape photographer living near Kardimili. Through his work he aims to draw attention to the plight wildlife faces because of human excesses.
Richard Garvey-Williams
In June of 2002 my wife, Lisa, our dog, Toto, and I embarked from the
UK with two vehicles fully laden with our remaining possessions. We had
sold up with the intention of jumping into our new life in Greece with
both feet. We had planned to develop a small centre to host special
interest holidays such as painting, yoga, walking etc. However, we
encountered various trials and tribulations in the first couple of
years and rapidly shelved this idea! Instead we simply built a house
for ourselves in Pedino, near Kardamili. Fortunately Lisa has been able
to continue her work, making trips abroad from time to time, and I,
having given up my career as an osteopath in the UK, have been free to
embark on my new chosen career as a wildlife and landscape photographer.
Since settling in the Mani, this fascinating region has rekindled my
passion for both photography and wildlife. It is indeed a special and
unique peninsula with plenty of interest to the photographer’s eye
through all seasons. The topography is varied and dramatic with
mountains and deep gorges to take your breath away.
Viros Gorge
The Viros Gorge extending deep into the Taygetos Mountain range.
Forested slopes, rocks, olive groves and the wonderful cypress trees
add colour, texture and form to any images captured. Weather fronts
coming in from the south west make their contribution through
spectacular cloud formations and the light patterns that they in turn
convey onto the landscape below.
Sea Light
Golden light patterns cast onto the Messinian Bay from broken cloud.
Wild flowers add colour throughout the year and put on a magnificent show of their own that unfolds through the Spring months.
Crocus Laevigatus
Autumn Crocus.
The bustling activity of bizarre insect life and the plethora of
reptiles adds further energy and life to this spectacular backdrop.
Mantis Religiosa
A Praying Mantis cleans its talons.
Being immersed in this has prompted me to embark on a project aiming to
reflect the beauty of the natural world here and to help draw people’s
attention to what we stand to lose if we don’t carefully consider the
effects of our actions. I am currently putting the finishing touches to
my first book, Light on the Mani – A Photographic Odyssey through the
Region, which reflects this intention.
Fire Zaharo
Aftermath of the recent fires at Zaharo – an example of how devastating thoughtless human action can be on delicate ecosystems.
