Giant's Footprints

2022

Image Story

"This guy will, without doubt, be one of the most iconic animals on the continent in 20 years time."

This is Michael, one of Amboseli’s emerging super tuskers. Already a giant at the age of 32, I spent five days in his company in 2022 but have never released the image.

Knowing he was one day going to be as famous as Tim or Craig, I was desperate to get a shot of him now, much as Nick Brandt did with Craig in the early 2000’s Those images are perhaps even more iconic now than they were when he originally took them.

My issue was positioning. Usually I am keen to work front on to my subjects, but Michael was pursuing a female elephant at the time so to position myself front on and, therefore between him and his intended conquest, would have been suicide.

This gave me an idea - could I follow alongside him, giving him space and creating a shot that angled upwards to emphasise his enormity, but also to highlight the calmness of his walk, the way the dust danced around his footsteps, and to show the incredible texture of his skin.

After a few failed attempts, Michael walked into an open area, ensuring I could keep a clear horizon. For me the image is made by the small Thompson gazelles in the background, the size difference exaggerated by the perspective, but none the less adding a real layer to the image.

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Standard: 35" x 20" Medium: 45" x 25" Large: 55" x 31" X-Large: 65" x 37"

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Behind the Lens

I have lost count of the times I have been watching an animal through my lens and thought to myself - I can't see much of the landscape right now - only to take the camera away from my eye and find the creature almost on top of me.