Just Another Day In Paradise

Studying the immense Maasai savannah, the animals blend into the landscape so completely that there doesn’t appear to be a single living thing in sight. Just then, as if to laugh at my own naivete and uneducated eyes, this mother cheetah and her four cubs materialized right in front of us!

To have four nearly grown cubs means she must be a very good mother. The cub yawning in the camouflage of her mother, signals it’s just another day in paradise.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go

This young male blackback Gorilla sat poised with absolute straight faced irony as he observed the comedy of his family members taunting the adult humans who were literally head over their heels in the jungle

Boy Herder

In the Maasai culture, cows are the primary food source and a sign of a man’s wealth. This young herder is responsible for the safety of the herd and can wield that impossibly heavy spear with power and precision.

Garden of Eden

Samburu, Kenya, aka the Garden of Eden, where nature and wildlife teach us self-destructive humans, the possibility of harmony, no matter how our appearances may differ.

Play

These adolescent boys at play were tearing up the jungle as they tested each other’s grit in games that in later years will become tactics of establishing dominance.

Here’s Looking At You, Kid

In a herd, a zebra’s stripes confuse a predator’s ability to focus on a single zebra.

Huddle

This tower of Reticulated Giraffes huddle together in the midday sun under a lone acacia tree, looking for some much elusive shade.

Majesty

The late afternoon sun’s rays cast a golden glow on this male lion’s profile, showing him in full majesty. As a female approached, you could just hear him say “It’s good to be the king”.

Lake Naivasha

Witnessing flamingos in flight was pure delight.

The sheer number of flocking birds was impressive, so much so that I was lucky not to be standing under them.

Contemplation

There is a balance to find when in the presence of a gorilla family – on the one hand I wanted to be in the present moment and just take it all in, and on the other hand I wanted to capture the moment in the camera. Between shaking from excitement, the lack of light and the difficulty to focus on an animal that’s obstructed by leaves, it was a worthwhile challenge. This male black back touched a sad and tender place in my heart and all the photographic demands seemed to simplify.

Family

Waterholes attract all kinds of wildlife, whose prime directive is to drink. But given that different species can be found drinking together it’s fun to imagine the gossip that might be shared.

Rainbow Jete

Low and behold! A gazelle jetes into a rainbow, with an audience of attentive Wildebeests.

Cape Buffalo

Buffalo seem calm and content munching grass as their calves enjoy the comfort of the herd. But, the Maasai consider them to be one of the most dangerous animals because they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, they have an unpredictable nature and the ability to gore and kill.

Cheetah Twins

The cheetah is the fastest land animal on earth and are capable of running up to 75 mph. These cheetah siblings confidently posed for their portrait.

Present Moment

At Save The Elephants Research Camp in Samburu, Kenya, this gorgeous bull elephant casually wandered into the compound for lunch. He tore at tree branches munching leaves and walking silently, as though tip toeing by. He looked straight at me and flapped his ears. We shared this captured moment.

Kitten Cap

After their midday feast, affection and adorableness was at its peak with this kitten cap moment between mother and yearling cub.

Framed

I came across this tender moment of a 6 week old Maasai Giraffe calf, framed by her mother’s long, graceful neck. At birth, giraffe’s are 6 feet tall and can weigh 100 to 150 pounds.

Posed

I found myself grinning back at these Wildebeest posing and sizing me up as I interrupted their snack time.

Kiss

In Samburu Kenya, each family of elephants are given a name. These two are from the Storm family and are cousins. As they greeted each other it took all my self-control not shriek with delight. Instead I channeled that energy more appropriately and captured the moment with my camera.

Mirage

The intense midday sunlight melted away detail, transforming the Wildebeests into a painted mirage.

The Silverback

The patriarch of the family sat anchored while female, baby and juvenile gorillas climbed on and around him. The young male black backs hooted and beat their chests. Suddenly, the silverback noticed he was encircled by humans and sprang from this spot to within an arm’s length of me –my eyes lowered in submission. He then disappeared into the jungle. I shook with exhilaration! 

Heaven’s Gate

Towards dusk, the Mara sky seemed to open up giving us this glimpse into heaven.

Pas de Deux

The Vulturine Guineafowl is a large bird that would rather run than fly. It’s a social creature and can be found in flocks of around 25. This couple dances a pas de deux, showing off their brilliant cobalt blue feathers and eerie red eyes in the midday sun.

Bashful

Inquisitive yet coy, this young Maasai giraffe calf will nurse until it’s about 4 months old.

Dotted Land

Maasai Mara is the Swahili word for dotted land. The savannah is dotted with Acacia trees that seem to pop up, sprinkling shade for creatures, great and small.