LAND OF THE GIANTS
“Being in the presence of such gentle giants has a way of grounding you in unimaginable ways. I had never realized how softly an elephant walks until one passed just in front of us.”
How humbling an experience to lock eyes with an elephant, or watch a leopard hunt its prey in the wild. Witnessing the circle of life in Africa is something I have dreamed of since a child, and something I was lucky enough to experience the December before last.
It was magical to see Botswana after a heavy rain event, especially as it is something that happens only a few times a year. The African soil was blanketed with life. The trees were sprouting leaves, and bright green grasses covered the usually barren landscape.
Being in the presence of such gentle giants has a way of grounding you in unimaginable ways. I had never realized how softly an elephant walks until one passed just in front of us. With feet the size of dinner plates that barely make a dent in the soil, and footsteps that hardly make a sound, it was as if they were gliding across the land.
When traversing a windy dirt road through dense bush, we emerged face to face with one of the largest mother elephants we had seen. At almost four meters tall, she towered over our jeep. Her ears began to flare as she picked up speed towards us in an effort to protect her calf, which we found ourselves unexpectedly close to. We drew back as quickly as we could, looking for a way out. Luckily, our host was used to situations like this and had already planned an escape route, otherwise I fear we may have been trampled.
Aside from the occasional encounter, the days passed by at a remarkably slow pace. Morning jogs in the wild were often accompanied by the neighbourhood gang of baboons, a lost warthog, or a stray impala. One of the most magnificent things about witnessing wildlife there is that none of the animals are confined by a fence or border. Animals are able to follow their natural migration patterns and spectators are visitors to their natural environment.
Being a guest in the animals’ home left me with a personal connection to their way of life and their surroundings. Everything had its place and was entirely sustainable. The circle of life was on display in full force.
One night, we watched as thousands of termites erupted from the soil. It was almost as if scores of miniature volcanoes were erupting at once. The setting sun caught their wings and the entire sky looked as if it had just caught fire. I felt truly privileged to witness such an incredible event that happens only once a year after a heavy rain.
The sunsets in Africa are second to none. The most memorable of which was our last night in the bush atop a sharp cliff with a sacred baobab tree and watering hole. We sat for hours and exchanged countless stories, periodically making sure we weren’t about to be somebody (or some thing’s) dinner. As the sun set over the mountains, it cast a shadow over a herd of elephants and zebras in the distance. A calmness fell over the land as the sanctuary went to sleep.
After our time in Botswana came to an end, we headed south to Cape town, a true African metropolis and one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. We stayed in a quaint neighbourhood called Sea Point, with Lion’s Head mountain towering over us in the distance. The colorful roofs created a beautiful scene, one I was happy to capture on film.
I have always collected photographs as a way of collecting memories. A picture has this way of bringing me right back to the time and place it was taken, offering a glimpse into life in that very moment. I have always been drawn to analog photography. What started as a simple hobby, turned into an obsession. There is a special feeling when shooting with technology that is over half a century old.
Film has a certain timelessness to it, and an aesthetic that is nearly impossible to replicate. One of the greatest feelings in the world is coming home with a bag full of undeveloped film. The anticipation has the ability to completely captivate.
My time in Africa taught me to slow things down and embrace the simplicity of life. There’s no need to overcomplicate it. Travelling forces us to forget our worries, and to focus on the natural beauty that surrounds us. It’s one of the most amazing things that we as humans can experience.
botswana and south africa
december 2019
canon ae-1
As featured in Stade Magazine Volume II. - Land of the Giants