Fine Art Wildlife Photography: An Interview with Wim van den Heever — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

In October 2025, South African wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever was crowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year by the Natural History Museum, London, for his haunting image of a brown hyena wandering through the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia.

Wild Wings Safaris: Talk us through your journey into wildlife photography.

Wim van den Heever: "Wildlife photography has been a family activity from day one. My parents, and especially my dad, were always into photography and looking for the next wildlife destination. We'd go on family holidays to Kruger, Etosha, Botswana — always with cameras in hand.

As kids, my brother and I always had a camera. When my dad upgraded, he'd pass down his old ones to us. Photography became more than a hobby; it was part of life. I wouldn't call it a passion. It's way beyond that. It's the way I live my life every day."

Wild Wings Safaris: Sounds like a typical South African upbringing — family holidays in the bush. Where do you think this affection for the African bush comes from?

Wim van den Heever: "I think South Africans' love of the bush comes from their love of simple things — braais, friends, family, the outdoors. And there's no better place to enjoy that than in the bush.

Kruger in particular ticks all the boxes. You can camp, it's safe, beautiful, affordable, and you can enjoy it on your own terms. If you want to be first at the gate in the morning, you can. Or sleep in, come back later, and have a braai listening to the sounds of the bush."

Wild Wings Safaris: You've been shortlisted for and won categories in the BBC Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition numerous times. Would you consider that a career highlight?

Wim van den Heever: "It's always great when your work is recognised, but for me, career highlights are about the experiences — not the awards.

Travelling to the Antarctic and Arctic, photographing the Great Migration in the Masai Mara, tracking jaguars in Brazil, red squirrels in Scotland, snow monkeys in Japan — those are the things that stand out.

Having my work featured in a magazine or competition is an honour, but what matters to me is being in the right place, at the right time, with the right animals under the right conditions."

Wild Wings Safaris: What goes into selecting a bucket-list destination?

Wim van den Heever: "There's a lot of careful planning. I need to make sure I've done my homework about the subject — is it feasible, what are my chances of success, does it justify the cost and time? Only then can I commit.

I travel with several cameras and dozens of lenses, but it's not about the gear. It's about knowing the subject, anticipating moments, and choosing the right technique for the emotion I want to capture."

Wild Wings Safaris: What's your favourite animal to photograph?

Wim van den Heever: "Dangerous animals. Definitely the big cats — lions, leopards. They fill me with awe. There's nothing like diving with sharks or photographing polar bears as they move toward you. It's surreal to think you could be on their breakfast list.

Show me a big bull elephant and watch me lose my head," he laughs.

Wild Wings Safaris: How much of your research involves studying animal behaviour?

Wim van den Heever: "A lot. You can't just arrive and hope for the best. You need to understand how your subject lives, hunts, and moves — whether that's jaguars in Brazil or snow leopards in the Himalayas.

I spend a lot of time speaking to people who know more than I do. Success in wildlife photography comes from knowledge, patience, and respect for the animals."

Wild Wings Safaris: What sets fine art photography apart from other forms of photography?

Wim van den Heever: "There are so many ways to photograph a subject. But fine art is different. It's not about action or drama — it's about emotion and atmosphere.

A fine art image evokes a feeling. It gives the viewer space to reflect. The tones, the light, the composition — everything is deliberate.

You don't want a living-room print to make people feel hunted; you want them to feel wonder, awe, and peace."

Wild Wings Safaris: Fine art wildlife photography often sells for high prices. How does one calculate the value of a piece?

Wim van den Heever: "It's about rarity, time, and meaning. You can spend years in the bush and come away with only a handful of shots worthy of a fine art print.

For me, it's not just technical mastery — it's emotional truth. The image has to mean something to me before it can mean something to others."

Wild Wings Safaris: Are there photographers whose work inspires you?

Wim van den Heever: "Sure. David Yarrow, Nick Brandt, Federico Veronesi — each has a distinct vision. They remind me that photography is art, not documentation."

Wild Wings Safaris: What destinations are still on your bucket list?

Wim van den Heever: "I still need to get to Australia to tick off all my continents," he laughs. "But I'm drawn to places with wild, powerful animals. Tonga for humpback whales, Russia for Amur leopards, Chad for lions, Ethiopia for geladas and Simien foxes — those are still calling."

Wim's Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 image — the elusive brown hyena moving through Namibia's abandoned diamond mine — feels like the culmination of everything he's shared here: patience, intuition, respect, and artistry.

"It took me ten years to finally get that one single image," Wim said after winning. "The ghost I'd always dreamt of."

It's a reminder that the world's rarest creatures — and the photographers who follow them — teach us the value of persistence, humility, and wonder.

Fine art wildlife photography sits at the intersection of art and conservation. Wim's success is not just about a photograph; it's about a lifelong devotion to the wild and a desire to share its beauty in a way that moves people to care.

At Wild Wings Safaris, we've always believed that seeing Africa through an artist's lens can change how you see the world.

Ready to experience the wild through your own lens?

Let our expert safari planners craft a trip that brings you closer to Africa's untamed beauty — from Kruger's big cats to Namibia's haunting desert landscapes.

Contact us to start planning.