Which is the Mother?

Here is an ostrich family in the Samburu region of Kenya.  I have two questions for you:

1.     Who, Mama or daddy, protects the nest?

2.     How long does it take for the babies to reach full height?

It always pleases me to find wildlife families out in the bush.   Babies of all species seem to be so cute, and it is interesting to see how the families function as a unit.

You may view more Kenya Wildlife, here.

The Maasai Mara in Kenya

Whenever Mother Nature is showing off, there is magic in the air.  The combination of setting sun and a transient rain storm combine to create unique beauty.   When this occurs, one must be ready to make the photo, because the beauty may last only for a matter of seconds … never to be repeated.

You may view more Kenya Landscapes at this link.

common window screen used as a design element in portrait

This is an example of how spontaneity is so much a part of the creative process.   As we were making photographs in an old abandoned warehouse, someone said:  “What can we do with that old window screen laying on the floor over there?”.

Well, here you can see what we did with that old window screen … it became an essential and defining element within this image.

This image, Iron Cloak 2, has become one of my best selling images.   You may view more of my Top Selling Images by linking HERE.    And you may also view more of my nude images in the collection entitled Flesh & Stone., by linking HERE.

Maasai elder, Kenya

Not everyone smiles for a portrait.   I almost always ask for permission before making a personal portrait of any person, anywhere on this planet.   One of the things I have found is that every person seems to know how he/she would like to be photographed.   This elder was very pleased with this portrait.

There is a great challenge in making photographs of people with very darkly pigmented skin.   Can you tell me what that challenge is and how to deal with it?

To view more Kenyan people, click here.

mzungu

The Maasai is one of several pastoral people …. their lives, for generations, have been intertwined with the cows that they herd.   The Cowboys of Kenya.

To view more Kenya culture, click here.

mzungu

Related articles

• Maasai and nature: An uneasy truce (cnn.com)
• Kenya draws tourists through diversity of experiences | British Airways – Travel Industry News (travelnews.britishairways.com)
• The Masai (swahilisafari.wordpress.com)
• The Human Brain and the Beasts of Africa (slog.thestranger.com)

The Old Soldier

This wounded, incapacitated, exhausted and defeated Old Soldier may not have survived until morning, because he is now prey for the many predators of the night hunt..   What you cannot see is the massive open wound on his right flank.  A younger male had defeated this old fellow and had taken over the pride.

My camera position was carefully selected.  I was very excited about the ‘Visual Line’ in this image.  Can you explain how many different visual lines you see in this image and how they contribute to the power of the composition?

To view more wildlife of Kenya, click here.

mzungu

Marina in Comox, British Columbia

OK, you serious photographers, here is my question for you.     What were the two most important items of photographic gear used in the making of this photograph?

To see the entire collection of images from my private assignment of The Herring Spawn 2011, click here.

Mzungu