Took up photographing birds at an early age and has photographed more than 400 species. He has won more than 50 medals in International Salons of Photography. Artiste de la Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique 1964. Has produced more than twenty natural history books and field guides, several with his wife Pat. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (1986) was a joint effort of Peter, Pat and their son Raoul, with whom he has since written other books, including Photographing Australia's Birds (1995). Now concentrates on painting birds fulltime.