My preference is to photograph wild animals as close as possible. Being a portrait photographer as well, I believe that proximity is the best way to make an immersive photograph and capture the soul of your subject. But in the nature, with wild and enormous animals like elephants it’s not an easy task. With the help of my guide and the Maasai sometimes it is possible to create such opportunities to get close to them. On that sunny morning in Amboseli land I had one of those not frequent windows. And then there is not much time to react. After positioning myself where we thought the elephants would pass by, I waited for them. No doubt the estimation made by Juma was very accurate. There is a point of no return when the elephants are coming towards you after which you should not move at all or change position because this might trigger a dangerous situation and the animals might attack you if they feel threatened by your presence. At those moment when these giants are just in front of you so close, there is an intense mix of emotions and feelings….but you have to make the shoot and try to focus on it. There was anxiety inside me, and the adrenaline was flowing intensively through my veins. I took this photograph while handholding the camera and standing out of the car, just at a very short distance, but after seeing the image later in the day for the first time I felt really happy and fulfilled. It is a very special one, plenty of energy, strength and soul.
My preference is to photograph wild animals as close as possible. Being a portrait photographer as well, I believe that proximity is the best way to make an immersive photograph and capture the soul of your subject. But in the nature, with wild and enormous animals like elephants it’s not an easy task. With the help of my guide and the Maasai sometimes it is possible to create such opportunities to get close to them. On that sunny morning in Amboseli land I had one of those not frequent windows. And then there is not much time to react. After positioning myself where we thought the elephants would pass by, I waited for them. No doubt the estimation made by Juma was very accurate. There is a point of no return when the elephants are coming towards you after which you should not move at all or change position because this might trigger a dangerous situation and the animals might attack you if they feel threatened by your presence. At those moment when these giants are just in front of you so close, there is an intense mix of emotions and feelings….but you have to make the shoot and try to focus on it. There was anxiety inside me, and the adrenaline was flowing intensively through my veins. I took this photograph while handholding the camera and standing out of the car, just at a very short distance, but after seeing the image later in the day for the first time I felt really happy and fulfilled. It is a very special one, plenty of energy, strength and soul.
