The Gotto surname comes originally from the Genoa region in Italy, way back in the mists of time.

Born in Belfast on Christmas day 1948, I took up photography late in life.

Both my parents were scientists, Mum (Gwyneth) taught Biology in Methodist College (a large co-ed school with over 2000 pupils) and Dad (Viv) lectured in Zoology at Queen's University in Belfast---their combined knowledge kindled my appreciation, and that of my younger sister (Anthea), for wild animals and their role in the world around us, at a very early age.

Logically, having achieved appropriate grades in A level Botany and Zoology, I slipped into the Q.U.B. Zoology department with a science career in mind, and after a 7 year slog ended up with a PhD in River Pollution.

I was offered a Government job in the Freshwater Biological Investigation Unit----and subsequently opened a Sports shop ! 

It was only when I retired some 12 years ago that my interest was wildlife was reborn. Instead of the annual 2 week Mediterranean holiday, grabbed at the last minute and spent sweltering on some burning beach under a cloudless sky to get " the tan" that proved you'd had a great "foreign" holiday, my wife (Catherine) and I could pick something more exotic, with a view to seeing some of the indigenous wild animals. Also the widespread availability of digital cameras removed the disappointment of discovering your roll of film was "overexposed".

As you will see from some of my earlier work all the difficulties peculiar to Wildlife Photography had an impact on the final images, rocking canoes, heavy canopy cover, back light etc., coupled with inexperienced techniques and no tuition resulted in some spectacular failures----let alone the fact that all animals (apart from humans) are not willing to "recompose a pose" for you----it's a one time opportunity only !

However, over the last few years I feel more confident, have taken more time to learn about my gear and its capabilities, accepted my limitations and have been delighted to get more "keepers" with most of my shots. It's not easy----but then if it was everyone would be doing it with their smart phones----and where's the challenge in that !

I am not a professional photographer so there's no hard sell involved in checking out this website, but rather a willingness to share the beauty of as many wild animals as I can photograph, to the best of my ability----if you want to use any of these images, contact me and I'll be only too happy to oblige.

The GOTTSHOTZ logo----it's actually a reduced image of me taken from one of my International squash matches in 1985. Squash was huge in the 70's and 80's and for over 10 years I was named in the Guinness Book Of Records as "the most capped squash player in the world"----at that time with 122 appearances. I got my first Irish cap in 1976 and my last in 2019 (at the over 70's age bracket).