A Tremendous Loss to the Wildlife Forum and our June Theme Winner

[Rachel Hollander]

It is with great sadness and admiration that we honor Andre Pretorius posthumously for his contributions to BPN and to the Wildlife Forum and his contributions within the monthly themes in particular. His good-natured comments, gentle but on point critiques and generous reposts will be sorely missed. His constant thirst for improvement both in post-processing techniques and in the field as well as his unending respect and concern for the animals that we all photograph will continue to serve as an inspiration to all of us and to those in the future. RIP very dear friend.

Andre's entries for the June Theme:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/135953-Before-the-Chase.

http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php/135820-Who-was-Here

Thanks to the others that also participated in June.

Rachel, Steve and Morkel

[Steve Kaluski]

I cannot add any more to what we have already written in the above, however our thoughts are with you Gabriela and time perhaps too reflect on good memories we have ALL shared with Andre.

[Marc Mol]

Such a shock to hear this sad news indeed, I too echo Rachels kind words and sentiments. Andre's enthusiasm and eagerness to progress as a wildlife photographer will not be forgotten.

My own thoughts and sincerest condolences go out to Andre's family and partner Gabriela.

RIP Andre.

[Joseph Przybyla]

I have an empty feeling after reading this post. My memories of Andre are of him recently helping me and sharing his thoughts on one of my images. My sympathy and condolences to his family and Gabriela.

[Stuart Philpott]

I have benefitted so much from both Gabriela's and Andre's kindness,words utterly fail me on how to respond to this incredibly sad news. Gabby we are here for you if needed.
Such sadness,I adored the way Andre crafted an image, such dexterity, so much to admire. Gabrieal my and my darlings' hearts are with you,but still words fail

Stu

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hello all ....
I am shocked after getting the message that i have lost a very close friend and big Boetie !!!
Very difficult for me to find the right words ....
I feel there is a big hole now .....
Even we lived so far apart and only met once during a very intense Kalahari Trip in 2014 .... in his Kalahari ... our relationship was quite strong , i think . From the first time of meeting with him and his partner Gabriela ..... i felt home at their place and in their Kalahari !!!!
We shared our love to wildlife photography and the Kalahari .....
I personally never had that happened before , meeting someone you do not really know personally and from the first second you think this just works .
I would like to say so much more .....about him and me .... but actually feel not right enough to do so

I just lost a great friend .... way more than just a person who i shared a hobby with ....

My condolences are going to his family and other friends who will miss this wonderful guy .

My special thoughts are with Gabriela , his partner , i will try to be with her as far as i can do over the distance .

R.I.P my dear Boetie and great friend ..... i will never forget the time we had together down in South Africa and the numerous e-mail and Face Time talks , will miss all of that !!!!!!!!

Your northerly Buthi

[haseeb badar]

My Condolences to Gabriela and all their family and friends . I am deeply saddened after reading this post , just feeling so bad at this moment :( . We all will miss Andre so dearly on this forum , I just cant imagine Wildlife forum without Andre .

RIP Andre !

[keith mitchell]

This is one very sad day for me,have known Andre and Gabriela for a short time but this news is so sad and such a shock.Gabriela my thoughts and deepest sympathy are with you along with lots of others I'm sure.

Keith.

[Morkel Erasmus]

So sad at reading this tonight.
Cannot add more to what's been said already...
What a great loss!
:eek3:

[Jonathan Ashton]

I am very saddened to read this sad news. I most genuinely wish to express by deepest sympathy, my thoughts are with you Gabriela. Andre was a fantastic photographer, he will be missed very much by all of us.

[Mike Poole]

Very sad to read about this. Massive condolences to Gabriela, and despite being a very talented photographer, Andre always came across as a real decent genuine bloke with a love for his subjects - a very nice quality to had. I would have loved to have spent some time in the field with someone with that passion.

Mike

[Glennie Passier]

I am saddened to hear the news of Andre's passing. My thoughts are with you and yours Gabriela.

[Anette Mossbacher]

I just got the message that Andre has passed away. I am very sorry and my deepest condolences to Gabriela.

He will be missed very much

[shane shacaluga]

Very sorry to hear this news! Sincere condolences to family.

RIP

[Saurabh Singh]

Dear Gabriela,

Sorry to hear about the passing of your partner Andre. Please accept my condolences .
May God embrace you in comfort during this difficult time.

Regards
Saurabh

[John Hackney]

Such sad news. Andre's critics were so caring and spot on. My condolences to his family and friends.

[arash_hazeghi]

sad news my condolences

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Really shocked and saddened to hear about Andre. My heart goes out to Gabriela. Deepest condolences to his family and Gabriela. He will sorely be missed on this forum. RIP.

[D. Robert Franz]

A bit late but my condolences to Gabriela.. My prayers are with you!

[Gabriela Plesea]

To my BPN Family,

Thank you all from the heart for remembering Andre.

I found it difficult to read this thread at first, I could not get past the first two comments. I am trying to reply but the story teller in me is suffering from a scarcity of vocabulary - I am looking for words.

Tonight I have been sitting in front of the big Apple. Next to it another big Apple, it has not been switched on for over a month. An empty chair, a few hard drives lying around, and a book with a pharmacy label that says: " Steve/Andreas/PP work". The book is hand written and I plan to read it sometime, perhaps I could learn a thing or two. I did manage to look at few images in the Wildlife Forum and thought it would be good to at least try and write a few comments. But I find this difficult right now. I am trying to adjust to my new life and I have not yet accepted the loss of my best friend, my companion, the man who shared my passion for the Kalahari.

Perhaps "happiness" or "love" are rather inadequate, or insufficient words to describe the relationship between Andre and myself. Wildlife Photography played a major part in our lives and we spent all our spare time outdoors looking for subjects to photograph. This was our happy time, play time. Sometimes we took it all too seriously and competed with each other - I am not sure whether this was a bad or a good thing, I would like to believe it encouraged us both to progress. I am deeply grateful for Andre's presence in my life, as brief as it was it gave me a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Thank you all again for caring and for your support - I truly appreciate it.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Gabriela, great to see you have had both strength & courage to post a reply, take your time and just dip in whenever you feel like it, but it really is so good to see your presence back on BPN. :S3:

Steve :wave: