I Quit My Job In Finance And Have Been Photographing Wildlife Ever Since, Here Are My 30 Favorite Pics

One day, while visiting the Natural History Museum, by accident, I wandered into the wrong exhibit hall. To my surprise, I had entered the exhibition for the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year. I was astounded by the winning photographs. I was transported visually to a world I had never witnessed before. I was mesmerized by the beautiful artworks on show—in particular, the winning image, Blue Iceberg by Cherry Alexander.

This wildlife exhibition was an uplifting experience and one I would repeat every year. Little did I know the profound effect it would have on my life in years to come.

After working in the finance industry in the City of London for 15 years, I needed a balance in my life. Wildlife photography became my yang! I quit my job.

And in 2005, Africa became the new chapter in my life. The sheer size and magnitude of this continent were overwhelming. From navigating the forests of Bwindi and climbing the peaks of Kilimanjaro through to meandering along the red dunes of the Kalahari, I started photographing Africa.

It may be a cliché, but it is true—photography has become my life. No matter where I am, my mind's eye is taking photographs. It has taught me to see the world in a different light, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

We never know what road we may take in life or the catalyst that changes our life forever. For me, it was a serendipitous wrong turn into the exhibit hall of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world's most prestigious wildlife photography competition, which incidentally I have won an astonishing three times.

More info: peterdelaneyphotography.com | Facebook | Instagram | youtube.com | twitter.com

This post may include affiliate links.

White-Backed Vulture, Kalahari

Final score:

166points

I Quit My Job In Finance And Have Been Photographing Wildlife Ever Since, Here Are My 30 Favorite Pics

White-Backed Vulture, Kalahari

Elephant Sunset, Etosha Pan, Namibia

Heart Of Darkness

Bull Elephant, Dust Bathing

Dune On Fire, Namibia

Vanishing Point

Black Rhino Charge

Lion Flehmen, Masai Mara, Kenya

Chimpanzee Dreaming, Uganda

Giraffe Sunrise

Deadvlei, Namibia

Tower Of Giraffes

Virginia's Tree, Storm Over Mara, Kenya

Black Rhino Portrait

Grey Ghosts Of Etosha, Namibia

Giraffe Tree

Zebra Dance, Addo, South Africa

Wildebees Trek, Kalahari

Leopard In Autumn

Deadvlei, Namibia

Storm Over The Karoo, South Africa

Heart Of Darkness

Cheetah Mum And Baby

Lion And Cub, Father And Son

Lappet-Faced Vulture, Botswana

Looking Back, Zebra Foal

Kalahari Black-Maned Lion

Duke And Duchess, Masai Mara, Kenya

Gemsbok, Kalahari

Kalahari Lion Stare

Quiver Tree Forest, Namibia

Lone Wildebeest, Edge Of Etosha Pan

African Buffalo, Masai, Kenya

Misty Dunes, South Africa

Moonrise Over Quiver Tree Mountain

Red Hartebeest

Black Rhino

Olds Dagga Boy, Cape Buffalo

Games

Peter Delaney

Peter Delaney

Violeta Draseikaitė

Violeta Draseikaitė

Word Search

WordroW

Jigsaw

Crossword

Sudoku

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross

Word Flower