Monochrome Awards 2021

News

10 Jan

2022 has kicked off with a bang as six of my images were awarded in the Monochrome Photography Awards, a competition dedicated to showcasing the work of the finest monochrome photographers in the world. With five images achieving honourable mentions, “Tear for the Fallen” was awarded second overall in the wildlife category.

The Images

With my work over the last three years focussed on African wildlife, featuring a major emphasis on elephant imagery, it was a welcome piece of validation for the images to receive international recognition this week.

As ever, the majority of these images have been created in Amboseli, but with my work now taking me in to central Kenya as I focus more on rhino, it was a happy surprise to see one of 2021’s rhino images, “Tear for the Fallen”, place second overall in the wildlife category. A happy omen for what’s to come this year.

Tear for the Fallen

Taken last year on Ol Pejeta Conservancy in the foothills of Mt. Kenya, this shot was largely down to the help of my friend and guide, Tom Hartley.

For four days we drove around the conservancy, attempting to get close enough to create an image like this. To do so required getting eye level with one of the continents largest animals, ideally to within 10 metres of it.

Rather than use a large safari jeep, we took a Toyota flat bed, allowing me to lie on the flat bed and be a less imposing presence on the rhino. Doing so meant we were able to approach from down wind, with Tom reversing as I directed him round aardvark holes and bushes over a walkie-talkie, getting as close as was safely possible without disturbing the animal. While it may have looked odd from a distance, it was remarkably effective and I’m delighted Tom’s remarkable driving skills (and patience with me) have paid dividends.

An enormous thank you must also go to Ol Pejeta, not just for their kind hospitality while I was there but also for loaning us one of their rangers, Simon Irungu (as well as Simon Nakito on additional days), who were able to expertly locate and identify individual rhinos for us. Without their and Tom’s help, I would have had no images at all.

Rumble in the Jungle

Since March last year this has arguably been our headline image. Taken in Amboseli under the expert guidance of Eric Ole Kalama, two large bulls fight after hours of build up and stand offs. We had been following Vronsky, the male on the right, for a couple of days. The entire time he’d been calm, often allowing us within just a few metres to take images, never really showing any interest in us.

It was a stark reminder therefore, to see him use his six tonne weight to full effect, even though he did end up coming off second best in the showdown.

Prints of Rumble in the Jungle have proved our most popular in the last 10 months but we still have standard and large editions available via Red Eight Gallery.

“These prestigious awards celebrate the very best black and white photography from around the world. We’re thrilled that William’s work has been recognised in this way, and it’s yet further proof of his status as one of the world’s finest wildlife photographers.”

— Julian Usher, CEO Red Eight Gallery

African Icons

I’d envisioned a shot like this long before heading to Amboseli, it is after all what the regions so famous for; elephants and Mt. Kilimanjaro. We were five days in to our safari and we had had limited luck with herds. Rarely had things married up as hoped, an occupational hazard.

One thing you can always count on though is the elephants migrating in and out of the park on a daily basis to satisfy their never ending quest for water. Eventually luck had to fall our way.

As it was the peak of dry season the lake bed was bone dry, allowing us the chance to get out on to it and importantly, below the eye level of our subjects. This was key when trying to foreshorten the space between the elephants and horizon, making Mt. Kilimanjaro look as if it were on top of the herd.

A light rain over the mountain the day before had bought fresh snow, one of the few places on the continent it’s visible, and provided the proverbial cherry on the cake (or snow on the mountain) for the image.

Precipice

As with “Tear for the Fallen”, “Precipice” was taken on Ol Pejeta conservancy in late 2021.

Like much of my work, the weather plays as much a feature as the subject. Light, rain and storm clouds are as important, if not more so, than the animal for a strong composition - especially when trying to create prints. Imagine my delight therefore when, on our first evening on Ol Pejeta, dynamic weather combined with one of Africa’s oldest residents to provide an example in contrast.

This rhino is one of 39 southern whites on Ol Pejeta, to go with over 140 black rhino and the world’s last two northern white rhino. Their world renowned conservation model has received global praise as they fight against the odds to bring the northern white rhino population back from the very precipice of extinction.

I was delighted to be able to use this image to raise £4,200 at the Global Gala for rhinos last year and to now see it gain competition recognition is testament to the immense work done on Ol Pejeta.

Craig

No matter how much time you spend with elephants it never gets boring. Be it their size or their nature, perhaps our ability to recognise their innate sentience, or just something else entirely, it is a real treat to be in their company.

Perhaps no elephant personifies this more than Craig at the moment, Kenya’s poster boy for elephant conservation. With ivory that sweeps the ground Craig is a super tusker and reminder of all we stand to lose should we lose the battle to protect the last truly wild spaces.

Such is Craig’s fame that he’s regularly photographed or visited by photographers and tourists, making him more approachable, but on the flip side infinitely harder to create something original when in his presence.

This was my second attempt, and there may yet be more to come, but for now, it is by far the best I can do.

Michael

This is set to be our big release of 2022 so it was great to see it pick up an award before we bring it out.

Taken in Amboseli, Michael looks set to become one of the next superstars of the wildlife world. At just 29 his tusks are already reaching “Super Tusker” level, if they are not already.

Desperate to get a shot of him now, before he reaches the levels of fame Craig, and before him Tim reached, we spent nine days following him, waiting for the moment. Sometimes this can happen immediately, most of the time though you have to work for it. I would not have it any other way.

We’ll bring out more info on Michael, and the story behind it when we release the print next month. Until then an enormous thanks has to go to Eric Ole Kalama, without whom I would not have a single image from Amboseli. His immense knowledge of the region, its wildlife and uncanny ability to predict wildlife’s behaviour mean I am always where I need to be, in the full knowledge I am safe and able to work without distressing the wildlife. I owe Eric an immense debt.

*Celebrations “safari style” the evening we shot “Michael”*

Prints & Thank You

A huge thank you must go to the team at Monochrome Awards for putting on an excellent competition and to all the other entrants, professional and amateur.

As already mentioned, prints of “African Icons”, “Rumble in the Jungle”, “Precipice” and “Craig” are available from our “African Origins” collection, while “Tear for the Fallen” and “Michael” will be released as prints in 2022. For all print enquiries please email me here and I can discuss it with you and direct you to the team at Red Eight Gallery who handle all print sales.

Wishing you all a happy 2022,

William

William Fortescue

Hailed as one of the finest wildlife photographers of his generation, William’s internationally acclaimed work has seen him quickly make his mark on the industry.

Represented by London’s Red Eight Gallery and a partnered photographer of conservation organisations David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Saving the Wild, William’s work has sold around the world and been part of globally successful conservation initiatives Prints for Wildlife and New Big 5.

In 2021, together with Matthew Armstrong-Ford, William co-founded Armstrong Fortescue, a photographic safari company dedicated to getting guests off the beaten track. Their first safaris take flight this spring.

With William’s work dedicated to displaying wildlife in their natural habitat, it is with great pride 10% of every print sold is donated to his two partnered charities, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Saving the Wild.