Retired Navy Captain Photographs African Wildlife

by Mike Kravinsky

For Billy Dodson, his second career is a means to an end. He chose a very unusual second career – an African wildlife photographer. Dodson admits that it wasn't photography that drove him to East Africa, it was East Africa that drove him to photography.

His first experience with East Africa came in 2001. A outdoorsman friend of his was planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Dodson decided to tag along just to see the wildlife. At that time, he didn't know he had the desire or talent to be a photographer. The trip ended up being a mind opening experience for him. "This place on the planet just struck a chord with me,” says Dodson. "When I was in the navy, I did a lot of travel. I'm sure it was over thirty countries… I never had any place that I've loved so quickly as I do East Africa."

In 2004, he retired after a twenty-six year career in the Navy, where he earned the rank of Captain working in logistics. "If I ever want to do anything else," he thought, "I'm still young enough to pursue it."

He realized almost immediately that in order to spend more time in Africa, he needed to make money. Photography was the way to do that. He formed his company Savanna Images, bought a good used camera with big lenses, and went back four years later in 2005 - the year after he retired from the Navy. He used a visit with his son who was taking university courses there as the excuse. It turned out to be a scouting trip in which he went to almost all of the game preserves and took photos. "If you have a passion for a subject like that (East Africa), photographically I think you stand a better chance of doing it justice than if it was something mundane."

Dodson kept his ties to the Navy by continuing to work part time as a civilian contractor. That gave him the extra time and money he needed to travel and hone his new craft. Since 2005, he estimates that he's been back to Africa roughly a dozen times. "I feel very at home in Kenya and Tanzania," he says. While taking photos, he learned about the country and the habits of the wildlife. He also developed relationships with the people there. "You need to have some expertise in the area you travel. I'm confident I have that now," says Dodson.
 
With his experience and connections, Dodson figured he could lead tours as well as take photos. "The most important thing to me is I wanted to lead photo tours to East Africa. That was my goal." To achieve that, he had to have an archive of images that he could present to potential clients so they could see what they could photograph with Dodson as their tour guide.
 
Dodson started small to test his tours, bringing just one client at a time to East Africa. He gave technical as well as creative advice to amateur photographers.  "I went with one fella.... and he had problems with his camera. He immediately looked to me to help him out," says Dodson. Of course, Dodson also offers knowledge about where to be at a particular time of day, or particular time of year.  For example, he would advise that during this time of year, Wildebeests are having their babies at certain locations.
 
Dodson also started selling his photos. He recalls the first time he sold one at a local weekend fair. "The first time I did one of those shows, and money was placed in my hand for some of my work, that was absolutely the most fabulous feeling… I was actually paid for doing the thing that I love to do most of all."

Dodson notes that getting paid also validates his love of photography and East Africa in the eyes of Cynthia, his wife of thirty-two years. "This is something I've sort of felt that I've had to sell to my wife," he says. Initially she was skeptical, until he returned and was able to sell his images. He says, "When I get recognition for what I do or when I get money for what I do then that adds to my credibility with her and then she says, 'Maybe that's not such a wild dream after all.'"

Since starting in earnest in 2005, Dodson's work has been published in Outdoor Photographer, Nature’s Best Photography, Asian Photography and Virginia Wildlife Magazine, as well as in posters and calendars. He's also had his images displayed in the Smithsonian museum. Although his work is commercial, Dodson also donates his images to conservation organizations in Africa. "Because of the assault on the habitat of these animals, I think it's absolutely the most important thing I can do with my photos," he says, "It supersedes any financial consideration."

In August, Dodson will leave the Navy completely and take his first group tour to Maasai Mara where the wildebeest and zebra migration will be.  The group will also see what he calls the big five: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. "At that time it's the most vibrant place on earth," he notes.
 
Dodson has high hopes for Savanna Images. "I really think that in five years … I'll be doing my photo tours five or six times a year." He hopes to go with clients for about ten days and then spend another week to take his own photographs.

Dodson and his wife have considered being expats there for a few years; although she doesn't share his passion for East Africa. "She's been very tolerant of my insanity here," says Dodson. Nevertheless, he is sure he made the right choice leaving the navy when he did.  "A lot of people have a hard time letting it go… For me, my life's been so interesting since I retired; that I not only don't miss it, it's like it never even happened."

Visit Dodson's website - http://www.savannaimages.com/