My Favorite Picture

They say that noone visits Africa just once. This is true, at least for me anyway. Nonetheless this photo was taken on my first trip to Africa. Before leaving I studied the masters, Iwago, Lanting, Mangelsen, Wolfe to see how they interpreted the Serengetti. Some photographers swear against this but for me, it was my apprenticeship for lack of anything resembling one in real life. As I was driving around looking for the "kill" shot, I came across a lone Giraffe against an impending storm front that gave off the most brilliant blue. I said to myself, "Ha! That looks just like Franz Lanting's pic of a row of gazelles all looking one way." I had seen this famous pic of his in his gallery and in his book and wondered if the juxtaposition of the brilliant blue and yellow grass could actually be seen in real life, and there it was right in front of me. I turned on a whim with a 100 to 400 telephoto and snapped one pic. Thats right one frame. I didnt think it would translate to film. To date, its my favorite pic of all time...even after many trips back to Africa.

#africa #giraffe #storm #serengeti #masaimara #wildlife