At that moment, I’m momentarily disoriented, until the realization hits me—I’m in Kenya, on safari. I drift back into sleep, attempting to suppress my bubbling excitement for the adventures that await in the days and nights ahead. I awake again, this time to the familiar chime of my iPhone alarm. More info: peterdelaneyphotography.com | twitter.com | youtube.com As dawn breaks, a gentle pink hue tints the horizon while our 4x4 rumbles along the rugged terrain. My driver, Steve, punctuates the journey with his customary humor, quipping about the “African Massage” as we bounce along. His joke elicits a smile from me and laughter from my guests. The chilly wind nips at my face, but I’m grateful for my trusty beanie, which keeps my head warm. It doesn’t take long before our first wildlife encounter—a pride of lions consisting of five females and a young male sporting the beginnings of a mane. As we approach the lions, I notice the wide-eyed wonder on my client’s face, reminiscent of my own first safari experience. The thrill, the reverence, and the tingling anticipation as you come face-to-face with a killing machine. Whenever I work with my clients, my first goal is to calm them down and reduce their over-excitement. After all, capturing a sharp photograph requires a steady hand and a calm mind. With a few deep breaths and reassuring words, the familiar click of shutters fills the air. As we rounded a corner that morning, one of my beloved trees came into view. Bathed in the soft morning light, with remnants of storm clouds lingering overhead, the acacia tree stood majestically. However, what truly ignited my photography juices was the sight of tall figures in the distance, gracefully traversing through the long grasses of the savannah. Giraffes! The five Masai giraffes were still a few kilometers away, but I knew their destination—a tree close by. Deciding to position our 4x4 at a distance from the tree, I calculated that we’d need a 200mm focal length lens to capture the composition I envisioned. However, I also instructed my client to have his second camera ready with a wider lens, as I had another composition in mind. My client was thrilled with the resulting composition, and so was I. As the giraffes proceeded toward the tree, it was the last giraffe that provided us with the quintessential African scene. Stretching its neck to reach the last dangling leaves, amidst the lush grass and billowing white clouds, a stunning photographic print was born. As my tummy rumbled, signaling perfect timing for breakfast, we made our way to my cherished tree. While my guests stretched their legs, Steve and I swiftly set up a table and chairs, arranging a delightful spread that the lodge had prepared for us: coffee, croissants, muffins, cheeses, and meats. It was a scrumptious breakfast, enjoyed amidst the expansive beauty of the Mara. One of the most unforgettable highlights for my clients occurred in Amboseli, where we spent an entire morning in the company of one of the last remaining super tuskers in East Africa. It was a magical bucket-list moment to capture and spend time with this gentle pachyderm against the backdrop of the majestic snow-covered Kilimanjaro. But that’s a story for another time. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
