KENYA
AMBOSELI, TSAVO WEST AND ARABUKO SOKOKE NATIONAL PARK
BY STIAN KLO
AMBOSELI, TSAVO WEST AND ARABUKO SOKOKE NATIONAL PARK
BY STIAN KLO
Prior to my African safari trip to Kenya I told myself to embrace the adventure and not force the creative process in terms of photography. I love a good wildlife portrait as much as the next guy, but coming from a landscape background - I wanted to capture the animals in their natural habitat in an undisturbed way. I didn't want to pull out my 600mm and focus on just their facial expression, but rather frame the compositions to showcase the vastness of the land and the environment these animals must endure on a daily basis. During my trip, we visited the world renowned Amboseli National Park, the lesser known Tsavo West NP and lastly, the Arabuko Sokoke Forest / National Park on the east coast.
I hope you enjoy my approach.
I hope you enjoy my approach.
I know what you're thinking, a red elephant ? Yes, it's true and not a Photoshop trick by any means. Our guide, Francis Wamae, told us that within a certain herd of elephants in Tsavo West NP - there are a few that often venture off to the foot of the Kilimanjaro to roll around in a special type of red soil - completely covering these massive creatures. The red soil acts as a defense mechanism against the aggressive and annoying tsetse tsetse flies. I had no idea, so you can imagine my surprise when we stumbled on this elephant.
Francis was very cautious around this red elephant, as rumours has it the red soil also makes them slightly aggressive towards humans.
Francis was very cautious around this red elephant, as rumours has it the red soil also makes them slightly aggressive towards humans.
