Issue 20
Under the Acacia
Working in the inexhaustible natural pageant before me, I came to wonder if the artist who commands the landscape might in fact hold the keys to the secrets of the human heart: place, personal history, and metaphor.
In the Spotlight
Under the Acacia…From the Black Cotton Collection
I rose early to photograph jackal pups on the morning of the 21st of August 2013. They emerge to frolic in the warmth of the early morning sun near their den. While one might spot one or two of them at play during the day, they are more inclined to gather as a group in those precious early hours.
En route to the den, my guide and I paused to admire the sunrise as it cast its first light over the horizon. As an artist, landscapes have always been my first love. I began by capturing cityscapes and nature’s vistas long before my fascination with wildlife and bird photography took hold.
As the sun began to peek above the horizon, inspiration struck. If David, my guide, could move the vehicle just slightly to the right, the sun would rise perfectly to the left of the acacia tree. With daylight at its cusp and the blue hour swiftly retreating, I captured this image using a 200mm focal length at f4. This approach allowed me to underexpose the foreground whilst emphasising the rich hues radiating through the sky.
“Under the Acacia” is a celebration of nature’s own artistry; a glimpse into moments seldom witnessed, where serendipity meets patience. This unique image will be released as a limited-edition print in November, during my biannual print sale.
And the jackal pups, you may ask? We spent several delightful hours watching them play, and I have included a few negatives for you to to enjoy.
That’s it – thanks for reading! As always, please feel free to hit reply and exchange your thoughts or to just say “hi”.