ROB SMITH

Birds in Focus: A Journey into Avian Fine-Art Photography

10 August 17:45 for 18:00 – Plettenberg Bay Country Club

 

Rob will present a curated selection of his avian imagery captured over the past 26 years. The presentation will feature fifty high-resolution images, highlighting the delicate interplay of light on the birds he photographs and the environments in which they live. He will underpin this with his thoughts on creating fine-art bird imagery, specifically of those birds found in Plettenberg Bay.

Rather than a continuous display, this will be an interactive discussion. Rob will guide the audience through his portfolio, the planning he puts into taking a series of photos, technical considerations related to composition and lighting, and the sustained vigil required to capture birds in the most beautiful and engaging way possible. There will be ample opportunity for questions regarding camera technique, fieldcraft, and digital workflow throughout the evening.

 

About our speaker

From the banks of the Kafue River in Northern Rhodesia in the 1960s to the rugged beauty of Plettenberg Bay today, Rob’s photographic interest has been formed by nature. Growing up on a farm with his brother, he explored the African bush, absorbing its sights, sounds, and scents – experiences that began a lifelong passion for capturing the natural world.

That same spirit of exploration has shaped his photographic eye. Whether capturing an evening’s light on the Robberg Peninsula, the poise of a Martial Eagle in the Kruger National Park or taking in the stillness of a Knysna indigenous forest, Rob’s images reveal both the beauty and the intimacy of the natural world.

Rob’s work has been widely celebrated, with publications such as The Wall Street Journal, African Birdlife, Getaway, GO, The Times of Plett, and SOUTH featuring his images. African Birdlife recently named his photograph of mating Half-collared Kingfishers as one of the best published by the magazine over the past two years. His fine-art images hang in homes in South Africa and across the world, collected by those who share his reverence for Africa’s natural world.

 

 

 

 

As we continue to look for ways to evolve and use technology to improve your experience, we are introducing a new, hassle-free reservation system for this event.

For the first time, we will be using Quicket to manage all RSVPs and payments.

Why the change?

• Limited Queues: By handling ticketing and payments securely online beforehand, we completely eliminate the bottleneck at the entrance. On the night, you simply arrive, we scan your ticket, and you walk right in.

• Better Catering & Planning: Real-time attendance tracking allows us to provide the catering team with exact numbers, ensuring a seamless dining experience for everyone. *Please get in touch with us if you have any special dietary needs.

• Peace of Mind: Secure your spot instantly without worrying about carrying cash or managing manual EFT confirmations.

Our goal is to make our club events as streamlined and enjoyable as possible, from the moment you book until the last presentation slide.

More info

17h45 – Arrival

18h00 – Presentation

19h30 – Dinner

 

Main Course

Chicken, Leek & Mushroom Ragout in Phyllo baskets

with steamed Basmati rice, green beans and roast pumpkin.

VEGETARIAN:
Available on request. Please remember to indicate it when booking your tickets on Quicket.
DESSERT:
Chocolate Malva Pudding with Crème anglaise.

*Reservations are essential for both the presentation and dinner as we are restricted to a maximum number of people that can attend the venue.

NB. Closing date for dinner bookings is Thursday, 7th of August 2026

R200.00 per member
R220.00 per non-member

BOOKINGS ONLY THROUGH QUICKET AT THE LINK ABOVE

Talk Only Members – R50.00
Talk Only Non-Members – R60.00

Cash Bar Available
Please make payment on order with a credit/debit card.

If you wish to attend, please email your booking via the Quicket link at the button above. It will click through to the Quicket website where you need to follow the instructions to select your ticket type and make payments. Please remember to set the right quantity of tickets when you make a booking. You should receive your tickets on email via quicket – remember to also check your junk mail folders. We will also have a guest list of names of people that booked on the evening.

Please get in touch with Jenny if you have any special dietary requirements or have any queries.

Jenny Wilson on 083 388 5006

*Please note if your booking is confirmed, the club is committed to the numbers and you remain liable for the payment.