Kruger National Park

Nikon D3s 200-400mm F4 400mm F32 1/8

'To be honest I am not filled with admiration when I look at a crocodile.  As a photographer and conservationist I should be not subjective in anyway about my subjects but it is not easy to feel anything but uneasiness when viewing the huge beasts.  Their eyes seem to stare into nothingness and I would say that empathy is the furthest cry from any emotion in their single minded stare.'

        This five metre crocodile cutting a swathe through the Sweni River is a beautiful image.   I slowed the shutter speed right down as one can when shooting slow moving reptiles and the fast moving water framed the animal in contrast.  I daresay that after many years of trying over two continents I may have finally captured a very different image of a crocodile.  This fellow sat here waiting for the tilapia moving up the stream to escape the current.  In the blink of an eyelid in a speed that belied his bulk he would despatch a fish and resume his wait for his next meal.



    

The Lower Zambezi

Nikon D3s 200-400mm F4 - 360mm F4 1/1600

'One of my favourite images.  The whisk of the tail almost makes a sound as the huge animal follows with his line of sight. '

       This elephant was photographed on the Lower Zambezi.  Whilst not quite what is considered a 'tusker' his tusks had a beautiful symmetry.  He drank unhurriedly in front of us before slowly crossing the river and ambling through onto the Zambian plains.  Although an expression at times over used, the thirty minutes spent with the great beast was truly a euphoric experience for the seven of us in canoes.  He was completely unfazed by the attention and I think that this is central to our fascination with the great beasts.  Anything so bereft in acknowledgement of our scrutiny by us is of course worthy of our absolute preoccupation.