I carry a notebook full of sketches of pictures I want to take - they are really scruffy sketches, but at least I am going out there with a clear objective.

I concentrate on the southern African subcontinent.

Courage is clearly a readiness to risk self-humiliation.

My first serious project was photographing badgers - very, very difficult as they are shy and nocturnal.

Currently I am working on another three books, doing a lot of magazine work, am shooting for fifteen stock agencies, plus my own photo library - all this keeps me quite busy!

For sure, all over Poland, kids had my picture of a lemur on their bedroom wall - but the chances are they may never get to see a real lemur in Madagascar. I thought this was great and it really meant a lot to me.

I also had a tremendous passion for art and read a lot.