Biography
Photo credit: Mairoa Pomana
Mark Kitchingman was born in Auckland, New Zealand (1985).
His fascinations with wildlife began during his 2006 travels around Canada where he would regularly encounter black bears while working at a mountain resort. More travels around his homeland, Australia, Asia, South America and South Africa over the next 14 years would turn that fascination into a full blown obsession. Something had to be done about it!
Frustrated with not being able to give the wildlife he encountered some photographic justice, Mark returned to NZ in 2017 and studied photography for two years at Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin.
The hard earned skills and confidence he gained while studying photography led to some minor successes. His first successful photo was published in an online petition by a German based wildlife organisation to help demand more effective conservation measures from the NZ Government in protecting the highly endangered hector and Maui dolphins. The same photo was also awarded 'highly commended' by judges in the 'Otago 2018 Wildlife Photography' competition and went on display at the Otago Museum.
Two photos would also end up being published by his conservationist hero and friend, Francoise Malby-Anthony, in her delightful novel 'An Elephant In My Kitchen'. One photo is of a loveable 9 year old southern white rhino saying hello to his human friend, Khaya (as seen in the 'rhinos' section above). The other photo published is helping to raise awareness of the dedicated anti-poaching teams at Thula Thula Exclusive Private Game Reserve who risk their lives on a daily basis to protect the rhinos and elephants on the reserve from ruthless poachers.
It is through these minor successes that a calling is beginning to be answered within and through his wildlife images, Mark aims to reconnect human audiences with the creatures that we share this beautiful planet with while raising conservation and environmental issues in the process.
Mark has recently based himself in Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand. He photographs hector dolphins during his days off work and he waits patiently for elusive encounters with one of his favourite animals... orcas!
