Martin Hayward Smith Photography
Biography
Martin Hayward Smith
Born and bred in Norfolk, his father was a press photographer and keen sailor. From an early age Martin learned to sail at Brancaster and explore the creeks and sandbars where his love of wildlife started. At the age of eight Martin was learning to develop and print film in his father's dark room.
After five years in the Royal Navy, travelling the world with camera in hand, Martin was next off to the North Sea, the Ivory Coast and Gabon working in the oil industry. Taking time off to explore Africa he ventured into northern Kenya where he met and worked with the late George Adamson of 'Born Free' fame.
After gaining a distinction in photography at Southport College of Art, it was back to North Norfolk with an assignment to photograph wildlife at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park.
A commission from Anglia Television followed with Martin subsequently joining their renowned 'Survival' team as a wildlife cameraman, travelling the world from the crocodile caves of Madagascar to the Amazon basin.
For BBC television, Martin worked on Sir David Attenborough's 'Life of Birds', the award winning 'Living Britain' series, the 'Natural World' programmes, and more recently on series with Bill Oddie, Alan Titchmarsh and Jimmy's Farm.
When not filming, or hanging out of helicopters, Martin can be found on his boat amongst the marshes, or with his daughter on the beach building sandcastles.
