Through Hudi’s Lens: Finding the Wild Within

Some stories begin with a camera. Others begin long before that, with dust roads, dawn calls, and a childhood steeped in the rhythm of the bush. For Yehuda “Hudi” Hirschowitz, one of Pilanesberg's most passionate young photographers, it all started with those early trips into the wild. The bush wasn’t a place he visited; it was the backdrop of his growing up. “From just a few months old, I was already going into nature,” he says. “It’s all I’ve ever known.”

That deep connection still shapes the way Hudi experiences photography. For him, it isn’t only about perfect shots or rare species, it’s about slowing down and noticing the smaller things. While big game photography remains close to his heart, birding has taught him a different kind of patience. “With birds, it’s never predictable. They don’t sit still, and you learn to adapt. You learn to be present.”

Hudi's favourite escape has been Pilanesberg National Park, a place woven into his story. It’s where many of his best memories and lessons have taken flight. But when asked for a dream destination, Hudi’s mind drifts further north. “Botswana is right at the top of my list,” he smiles. “The Okavango, the Panhandle, even the black leopard of Kenya, those wild places just call to me.”

Like many young photographers, Hudi’s gear journey has been an adventure of its own. After starting with Nikon and Canon, he eventually found his match in Fujifilm. “It might not be the first brand people think of for wildlife,” he laughs, “but the value, colour, and feel just work for me. It’s a bit of a dark horse.” He’s also exploring new editing styles and experimenting with themes, searching for that personal signature every artist hopes to find. To him, photography is less about competition and more about curiosity, about seeing how light, texture, and timing come together to tell a story.

When it comes to advice for beginners, Hudi’s message couldn’t be clearer: enjoy it.“Before worrying about settings or editing, make sure you’re actually loving what you do,” he says. “The more you enjoy it, the more you’ll grow. Don’t compare yourself to others, just show what you saw and how you felt.” He believes that patience and passion will always take you further than the latest gear or perfect settings ever could.

It’s the same reminder that threads through the YWP community, that photography isn’t only about light and lenses, but about connection, storytelling, and heart. The image is only half the story. The other half lives in the experience, the waiting, and the quiet awe that fills the space between each click.

Whether he’s capturing lions in winter light or the flash of a bird mid-flight, Hudi’s images hold a sense of stillness in motion. They remind us that the wild isn’t something we visit, it’s something we carry within us — a reflection of every moment we choose to look a little closer and see the world not just through a lens, but through wonder.