If you look around bookstores and the internet, you are bound to find quite a bit of black and white wildlife photography.
It’s easy to see why.
By removing color from an image, especially with a wild subject, we cut through all the emotion and distractions. You see a world of textures and shapes. You see the real subject.
Black and white photography also brings with it a sense of the past. A sense of nostalgia. It reminds us of a bygone era or, if things keep going like it is, a species that we used to see in the wild places of Africa.
As of 14 November 2010, 285 of these amazing animals have been poached in South Africa this year.
That means that one rhino gets killed every 27.5 hours.
One rhino… every 27.5 hours!
As wildlife photographers, I feel it is our duty and privilege to photograph these amazing animals, not only to show the beauty of these ancient-looking members of Africa’s Big 5, but also to raise awareness. We must show the beauty that is being destroyed all around us. Our images might soon be all that is left of an amazing animal.
For me, black and white images show the real subject and brings emotion. It shows what we have now. Let’s try, and hope, that we can keep it that way.
If you have any images of rhino why not share them on the Bush Warriors Photo of the Day facebook page.
Let’s show the beauty of the animal, the beauty of nature. Let’s show the fragile nature of an animal we will hopefully see in the wild places of Africa for a long time to come!
Yeah, not our normal wildlife photography post but I have just returned to the Madikwe Game Reserve where I manage a lodge and the reality of the rhino poaching hits home hard after being away for a few weeks.
Share your images. Show the beauty!
I’ll be back next week with a, hopefully, more upbeat post!
Gerry van der Walt
