ENTRY DESCRIPTION
The Mara oozes moments to be captured, from big cats and live-action to the migration herds. It’s sometimes easy to forget the tranquillity of the savannah plains and the calmer species. One such moment was this; whilst spending time with a tower of giraffes, I noticed one staring in my direction with something dangling from her mouth that I could make out with the dark background. Upon closer inspection post taking the photo, it was her drool; possibly over me.
AUTHOR
Growing up in Zambia had its unique charms; amazing weather all year round, houses with large gardens, no internet, one TV station and an abundance of nature and wildlife. I was fortunate to get numerous opportunities to explore the flora and fauna of this spectacular region of Africa. Between the metropolitan capital city of Lusaka, where I grew up, and the numerous trips to various national parks in Southern Africa, I appreciated the glaring contrasts at a young age; ecological, physical, visual, but mental as well. The serenity of these vast lands and the excitement of spotting wildlife often transpired within me; more so when I found photography (or when photography found me).
Photographing wildlife often requires split-second decisions at the best of the times and relies on one’s intuition to make and create moments. We have a lot more in common with animal characteristics than what we may realise. Whether the mother’s protection and love for her cub, a herd grieving over a deceased elephant or the special friendship that warthogs have with mongoose and elephants, we seem to share more mannerisms and traits than just beating hearts.
There is a certain kind of empowerment I feel being able to capture wildlife in its element with the detail and frozen moment that a lens can apprehend – the texture of an elephant’s skin, with all its exterior toughness yet intricate crevices; the cheetah’s black tear that allows its pin-point visual accuracy; the stealth, elegance and raw strength of a leopard that can swiftly take prey twice its size up a tree. It is details such as these that nature has provided to the ongoing survival of our precious wildlife ecosystem.
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