Photographers Spotlight
We are grateful to the talented photographers who have donated their photos for this year’s conference. Through their lenses, they capture the beauty, diversity, and wonder of birds and nature, helping bring our programs, publications, and conference to life. We invite you to explore their work and celebrate the individuals whose passion and creativity enrich this conference experience.
Jerome Foster
Born and bred in Jamaica, Jerome has spent half of his adult life working in Trinidad and Tobago. Jerome’s love for nature stems from childhood, sparked by reading National Geographic magazines and watching documentaries.
He stumbled into nature photography as an adult by chance. Buying his first Nikon DSLR camera and joining the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalist Club sent Jerome on a journey of discovery—learning about nature and practicing how to capture it. He now takes his camera, eyes, and ears everywhere he goes, throughout the Caribbean and the wider globe, photographing anything that moves (or doesn’t)—particularly birds!
Though Jerome treats photography more as a hobby than a job (he teaches full-time at a regional university), Jerome hopes his work helps educate the less-aware parts of society about the beauty hidden all around them—for example, explaining that “those black birds over there” might actually be two or three unique species—making others love nature as much as Jerome does.
Follow his work on social media
Zakariyya Ali
Zakariyya Ali, or Zak for short, is based in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up with a deep-rooted love for camping and hiking. After undergoing open-heart surgery at the age of eight, Zak spent a significant amount of time reading about birds and educating himself on both international and local wildlife. Over the years, his passion only grew; volunteering at the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation provided him with a space to flourish and network with like-minded peers.
He doesn’t have one specific style of photography; rather, most of his work focuses on capturing specific behaviors or animals in situ. While Zak loves birds, he also practices macro photography with reptiles and amphibians. Often through this work, he will capture a species or behavior only to realize later that it may be a novel bird or a new discovery worth documenting. In that sense, he uses photography as a vital tool for discovery and for decoding the ecosystem.
A fun fact about Zak is that he has been birding since the age of eight, and birds of prey remain his favorite.
Contact him at: [email protected]
Follow his work on social media
Faraaz Abdool
Faraaz Abdool is a wildlife photographer, writer, and environmental advocate based in Trinidad and Tobago. He is also an international birding and safari guide, offering relaxed, intimate wildlife journeys to destinations around the world. These ecotourism offerings prioritise the inclusion of local people and established parks and reserves, funnelling much-needed funds directly to the conservation of wild spaces. His immersive tours are often steeped in culinary exploration, offering participants the opportunity to experience history through gastronomy.
His first book, Casual Birding in Trinidad and Tobago, was published in 2020, and his debut solo photography exhibition was successfully held in Port of Spain in November 2023. His second book, 101 Birds of Tobago’s Rainforest was published in April 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. His third is currently in progress and is scheduled for publication in 2027.
Through photographs designed to function as portals, Faraaz transports viewers to the purity and raw beauty of the natural world—a process through which awe, wonder, and ultimately, love are kindled.
Visit his website: www.faraazabdool.com
Follow his work on social media
Nandani Bridglal
Nandani Bridglal is a biology educator and nature photographer from Trinidad and Tobago. Nandani’s love for birds started through spending time outdoors exploring forests, wetlands, and rural areas, and photography became a way for her to share those moments with others. Nandani enjoys capturing birds in natural, candid moments—whether it’s a quick movement in the canopy, a feeding behavior, or simply the beauty of their colors and expressions.
Nandani’s background in biology and environmental conservation shapes the way she sees nature, and hopes these photographs encourage people to appreciate and protect Caribbean wildlife and habitats. For Nandani, photography is not just about taking beautiful images, but also about telling stories about the natural world around us.
Follow her work on social media
David Huggins
David Steffan Huggins is a passionate bird photographer from Trinidad and Tobago whose journey began with landscape photography before evolving into a deep love for avian subjects. His interest in bird photography was sparked during a trip to Icacos, where spotting a Savanna Hawk inspired him to focus on capturing the rich birdlife of his homeland. Over the years, David has photographed many of the nearly 500 bird species recorded in Trinidad and Tobago, including the Scarlet Ibis, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Cocrico, and numerous hummingbirds. But his favorite bird remains the Aplomado Falcon.
In recent years, David has expanded his photography travels across the Caribbean and Central America, with hopes of exploring South America’s bird diversity. Through this work, he aims to inspire appreciation for wildlife while encouraging environmental responsibility, including reducing littering and preventing bushfires. David’s photography is widely shared on Facebook and Instagram, where he continues to connect audiences with the beauty of nature.
Visit his website: www.davidsteffanhuggins.com
Follow his work on social media