Giraffe Camelopardalis: “one who walks quickly, a camel marked like a leopard”
Despite being the tallest land mammal, giraffe are in fact quite elegant and dainty animals. They are sociable and often found in herds but unlike elephants, they don’t necessarily stay in the same social group.
I particularly like photographing giraffe at sunrise or sunset or using a wide angled lens, with the giraffe dwarfed by the huge Mara sky. It’s also wonderful to spend time with a mother and her calf, watching them interact and her providing protection from predators. It is hard to get a perspective of their size from a safari vehicle, with even a newborn being taller than most of us!
Big Head. Mum cleaning her day old calf. This day old giraffe still had the umbilical cord attached. Thet are very vulnerable to predators, so he either stayed close to mum, who also kindly gave him shade from the sun, or hid in the long grass as she fed. One of my favourite ever sightings.
Three Of A Kind.
Twilight. A lone male giraffe makes his way down to the trees at the bottom of the hill at dusk. The pinks and purples in the sky were incredible that night and this shot always gives me a sense of calm.
Age of Innocence. It was incredible to see mum tend to her day old calf and watch him feed. She towered over him, whilst he was already significantly taller than me!
Through the Tall Grass. One of those shots I love because it gives a sense of how big those skies are!
Mum! The calf rejects mum's affection.
Fields Of Gold. A giraffe feeding in the tall grass and wild flowers, with the escarpment behind in shade.
Jealousy. A baby giraffe looks on whist the other gets dinner. Taken in Namibia.
Sun Worship. A male giraffe at dusk. I love the flick of his tail.
Sneaky Peek.
Positivity. One of those images that makes me smile!
Out Of Darkness II
Forgive Me. Taken in Namibia.
Into The Light. This is from one of the most beautiful early mornings I have experienced in the Mara. The mix of colours in the sky was incredible and a kind giraffe chose to walk across the empty plain at the same time. An incredible start to the day.
The Kiss. Affection between mum and her calf. Taken in Namibia.
Statues
Mini Me. It's quite hard getting some perspective on the size of giraffe. However, this newborn could easily pass under mum's tummy and yet it would have already been nearly six feet tall!
Out of Darkness Cometh Light. It was a cloudy afternoon and looked like there was little chance of a sunset. But as the sun began to lower behind the hill it found a gap in the clouds, highlighting the giraffe.
Out Of Darkness. The giraffe was feeding in a shaded area whilst the sun was still strong. I waited until the giraffe moved its head into the light and significantly under exposed the shot. This resulted in throwing the shade into total darkness and just part of the giraffe's face emerging from the darkness. Taken in Namibia.
Picky Eater. A giraffe selects a snack from the floor as the sun sets behind.
Simplicity.
The Big, Friendly Giraffe. One of those amazing Mara skies and I am hanging out of my vehicle, trying to have my camera as low as possible to emphasise the size of this male giraffe.
Devotion.
Growing Up. Taken in Namibia.