The Shake

When you spend time in the African bush observing you noticedistinctive behaviour and character traits for each species. I tryvery hard in my images to tell a story, to achieve a symbioses oflight, colour and composition while emphazising an animals uniqueblend into that specific enviornment. Many times I actually have astoryboard in my head and go out and try to "tell it".

Giraffes are so elegant on their high legs. It takes them a long timeto bend down to the water when drinking, bending their legsballet-like in the process. As soon as they had enough, the will kindajump up, close their legs and raise there head and neck in a upwardarch motion. Their snout beeing drenched in water will release a sprayof drops.

I always wanted to get that shot, knowing I would need backlight tobring out the spraying. Persistance for month and month at thewaterholes finally payed out when the conditions where right.

Absolutely stunning photo - great use of light and patience!