Cape Sugar Bird - The Cape Floristic Kingdom, on its own, represents one of the six botanical kingdoms in the world. From my time in the bush around Southern Africa, I am surprised by how few animal species are adapted to exist in it. The Cape Sugar Bird is one of those, and this specimen, photographed whilst walking in the Helderberg Nature Reserve with my dad, is an acknowledgement of the love of birds and the bush that he inspired in me.
Rock Kestrel - These decoratively “painted” predators have adapted to the human landscape that has excluded so many other species. The fact that birds have their own domain means they are one of the most prevalent reminders of even in the depths of the concrete jungles we have created. This specimen was photographed in Bontobok National Park on the trip that I first got to meet my niece. I wondered what both of them saw as they gazed upwards.
Lilac-Breasted Roller - These beautiful birds were the first sign that we had got out of the city on my childhood journeys. It seemed then, that there was one on every telephone pole, but being insectivorous, their numbers have plummeted and their numbers have plummeted as a result of the heavy use of insecticide in modern day farming. This specimen was photographed at Matetsi Victoria Falls, another truly special place that I have had the privilege of spending time in.
Curious - The confidence with which a lion cub carries itself suggests that they already know that it is not them that will be killed if they decide to get curious. This image was taken in the dry riverbed of the Ruckomechi river, a river in which I spent many of the most special moments of my childhood.
Moon Tree - This was taken in Southern Namibia in the Aussenkehr Nature Reserve, largely established to protect the depicted Quiver Tree. Around full moon, when I’m far away from light pollution, I feel I can see almost as much by moonlight as during the day. Shapes, movement, depth and defined shadows… everything except colour. The moon by day holds this other level of beauty for me as she interacts with the sky and landscape in full colour. This framing particularly appealed to me after I adopted the moniker of Dandelion that was bestowed upon me by a three year old friend, and I couldn’t get over how many levels it fit on.
Waking up - One of the greatest treats of my move to Sommerset West has been observing the Cape Dwarf Chameleons in our garden. As the name suggests, they are small, but for some scale, this baby is less than half the length of my baby finger, perhaps an inch long. Not only are they famously well camouflaged but they are very shy too. Even using my long wildlife lenses from 10 meters away, they will move off as soon as they notice something is looking at them. At night, in the absence of birds, their diurnal predators, they tend to sleep towards the tips of branches and afford me a chance to get up close.
Sea of Gold - As a photographer, light is the brush that brings your canvas to life. The dust kicked up by a herd of zebra crossing this recently burnt vlei caught and clung on to the last moments of sunset's golden light. This single trailing zebra seemed as caught in the moment as, the dust, the light and myself.
Reaching - The image of an elephant climbing a tree was too fantastic for me not to want to capture and share. The bulls of Mana Pools are the only wild elephants to have learned to stand on their hind legs to access leaves and seeds otherwise out of reach. This young bull hasn’t mastered the freestanding reach made famous by “Boswell” but his efforts are nonetheless impressive.
Mana Magic - This photo is unmistakably mana pools on so many levels. The Acacia Albidas, the morning light, held by the dust of the dry season, the bare earth waiting for the rain whilst the canopy of the Albidas provide some of the only greenery to be seen, as well their sought after seed pods. It is these trees’ atypical fruiting season that are the reason the elephants of Mana Pools are the only wild elephants to learn to stand up on their hind legs. Food sources are at their scarcest at this time of year when the albida is producing a bounty that would otherwise be just out of reach. Their trunks are scarred by the elephants tusking and eating the bark, their resulting shape mimicked by the elephants pose was a lovely representation of the relationship between them. This photograph was shortlisted in the British Natural History Museum’s World Wildlife Photographer of the year award, and as a personal favourite I am printing a limited series of this image printed on wood.
Mana Morning - Mornings in Mana Pools are so magical that even the silhouette of this image will likely evoke the memory for anyone who has had the privilege of experiencing it. The elephants trunk is curled into the shape of what I recognize as an “Ndoro.” The circular spiral of the ndoro represents the cyclical nature of life and the universe in Shona culture.
Spider moon - By day the Orb Spider’s web is golden but by the night's moonlight, I was spellbound by the strands of silver and their skilled sculptor. Sleeping out in the bush is one of the most special experiences and on every occasion I’ve done it, it has proved to me that the fear many have that all these things are out to get you is entirely misplaced. Harmless to humans, this queen is to be revered not feared.
Half moon - The edge of light and shadow on the half moon captivates me and helped me for the first time visualize and understand the arrangement of our planet, our moon and our sun in their cosmic dance. It is truly amazing to me that in this dance, her rotation in space and revolution around earth means that she never shows us her “dark side.”
Eternal - Photographed at Matetsi Victoria Falls, this Baobab silhouetted by the setting moon and framed by the Milky way was the “gatekeeper” as you left behind the last sight of camp. Whilst I love long exposure astral photography, standing in the dark choosing to forego any source of light to capture the image, reminds you of just how vulnerable you are at night in the bush. It is a humbling but beautiful and powerful feeling, and the results are often worth it, and the memory as eternal as the stars.
¾ Moon - The moon has become a representation of the higher power in my life that supports me in finding my path through the darkest parts of my journey. Powerful enough to move oceans, and always there, whether or not you can see her. Despite being a fraction the size of the all powerful sun, she stays so close that she can perfectly eclipse it when she wants. As an homage to that, this photograph has been inverted, making light dark and dark light.
Crystal Dragon - This dragonfly was photographed in the wetland/vlei that the community I lived in fights tirelessly to save from “development.” The delicacy of its wings bejeweled in due drops, represents for me, the delicate balance the natural world hangs in against the weight of human impact. This photograph was a finalist in a competition run by Orms and as such is permanently installed on the seapoint promenade. A limited edition of prints of this photograph on metal are available on request. This photograph is dedicated to all those that dedicate their time and energy to preserving these spaces, like the Conservation Society of Monavale (COSMO) in Harare, Zimbabwe where this was taken.
Lucky - The Erythrinas of Southern Africa go by many names, but to me it will always be the lucky bean tree, named for the seeds we collected as children. As luck would have it, when I walked out the front door of my parents house in Somerset West, a rainbow seemed to be planting its pot of gold into the neighbors lucky bean tree. Rainbows hold a special significance for me, but that is a whole other exhibition. Please do speak to me if you share the love of these magical natural phenomena.
Wild Eyes - A lion's gaze can feel like it is looking straight into your soul, yet it can also feel like it is looking through you as if you were not even there. They are awe inspiring and terrifying to me. A quiet confidence, that despite their largely languid nature, comes from the knowledge that they possess immense power. This moment was shared with friends and family and in particular my “fairy god-daughters” who had never seen a lion before and were busy fighting and jostling for their chance to look through the camera and press its buttons. As a result I share the credit for this photo with Lu and Ali.
Flower Mantis - The Spiked Flower Mantis is one of the most remarkably beautiful and ferocious creatures I have come across. This was one the first times I saw one and without having a macro lens at the time, the image was taken with my “nifty fifty” lens held back to front against the camera. I subsequently dedicated days on end to watching and filming them throughout their lifecycle and encourage you to watch the trailer on the films tab of my website. I have to express my gratitude and admiration, whose lovingly tended garden created a habitat for these marvels of nature to thrive..
Floating - This image, captured late one evening at Masuma pan in Hwange National Park was exposed to capture the texture and details of the hippos skin, but as a result was intensely overexposed for the reflection of the setting sun making it disappear into white. The calm surface of the mother and child floating belies the paradoxical strength, speed and aggression of these docile seeming creatures.
Echoes - Whilst I clearly remember the moment of each and everyone of these photographs, this was for me, the most poignant. The image is looking down from World’s View, Nyanga, which is known in Shona culture as a deeply spiritual place. As I sat looking out, consumed by a battle in my head with some of my perceived demons, this baboon sat alone standing guard. I realized that he was standing guard because every time he barked his claim to his territory, a competitor's call came back. The challenger’s response was simply his own echo.
Spotted - Despite spending a significant proportion of my time growing up in the bush, it wasn’t until I was seventeen before I saw a leopard in the wild. As it would have it, that was also the time I first got into photography after my father gave me his Nikon F1. Thirty years later, with my father, in the same vehicle, whilst exploring a road I knew had been a wrong turn, we shared this, similarly poignant moment.
Window in Time - The process of assembling this exhibition has been a journey back through some of the rich life experiences I have been so lucky to have had. This photograph is a parting gesture, inviting you to join me on some of my other photographic journeys. Thank you.
