Heat, Dust and Dreams: Kaokoland Photography

Himba shadow, Kaokoland, Namibia. Copyright: Heat Dust and Dreams

A Himba elder casts an elegant silhouette against the mud daub wall of his home.  The Himba are semi-nomadic pastoralists that inhabit the remote north-western corner of Nambia - a region of harsh, largely waterless semi-arid desert.  More photos of this to come, largely drawn from the book I published on this area, Heat, Dust and Dreams.

Flamingos in formation

Photographer Bobby Haas recorded this on-off formation of Caribbean flamingos in Mexico's Yucatán province - mimicking themselves, and an elegant example of life imitating art.  His profile and other work can be viewed on the National Geographic site.

Elephant vs crocodile Pt 2

This just proves that crocodiles have no limit to their ambition - not even an imposing elephant cow deterred this determined reptile. The original gallery is courtesy the BBC, with the images taken by Martin Nyfeler in Zambia's Luangwa Valley, and can be viewed here: BBC News - In pictures: Elephant and crocodile 'tug of war'

Elephant vs crocodile Pt 1

Kipling and his 'Just So' stories came to mind when this image of a young elephant calf  being given a run for its money by an ambitious crocodile was captured by Johan Opperman in South Africa.

Great White Shark Up Close

Me my Shark and I from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo.


Chuck Patterson shot this footage of a Great White shark off California using a pole mounted video camera.  For all you surfers and board riders out there the footage gives you a great insight into what is just below the surface.  Chuck shot this from his stand up paddle board - so respect all round is due I believe. You can read more of Chuck's exploits with these endangered sharks on his website.

Living With Elephants

Doug and Sandi Groves run the Living With Elephants Foundation (LWE) out of Botswana's Okavango Delta, a non-profit that strives to educate and create harmonious relationships between people and elephants. This is achieved using their three 'ele-ambassadors' - Jabu, Thembi & Morula - orphans of culling operations in the sub-region. Doug is also an accomplished photographer, as you can see from these magnificent photographs of  bull Jabu (Happiness) shaking the fruits out of a Makalani or Vegetable Ivory Palm (Hyphaene petersiana). If you would like to read more about the LWE Herd or find out how to visit them see the LWE site here.

Jabu harvesting palm nuts. © Douglas A. Groves/LWE

Jabu harvesting palm nuts. © Douglas A. Groves/LWE

Elephants from the perspective of a mouse

Photograph: J&B Photographers/ Steve Bloom Images/ Barcroft Media

Barrie Wilkins and Jill Sneesby captured the  unique shots of the colossal animals by digging a bunker in Etosha National Park, Namibia, and patiently waiting in silence for the perfect moments to capture them on film. 

Always Lightly Tread?

Always Lightly Tread is going to attempt to touch on (mostly) environmental topics with a smattering of news, photography and culture - which could be anything that inspires me from music, blogs, books, photography to video and film.  The subject matter is also going to have a strong African bias, though I may digress occasionally.  To kick off one of my (own) favourite photographs taken in Namibia's Kaokoland region...where this giraffe is an incongruous sight on the gravel plains of the Namib Desert.

Desert dwelling giraffe, Kaokoland, Namibia. Copyright: Heat Dust and Dreams

For a preview of  more photos, and the book I researched and photographed there see the link here: Heat, Dust and Dreams, published by Struik/New Holland.