Tanzania, 2021.

Limited edition print of 6 – I had a few images in mind before heading over to Africa on safari, including an elephant portrait or detailed closeup of its skin. To me it’s important to have a few images drawn up in your mind to help give my eye direction while out in the field. There was this large bull elephant grazing on vegetation down by the water’s edge one midafternoon inside Tarangire National Park. Perfect. He was alone. No other vehicles were in sight to complicate things. My driver, an expert in African wildlife, knew he could get us close for the image I had in mind while keeping all of us safe. Many of the large animals in Africa have bird companions that usually eat parasites off their skin. More often than not it’s a harmless relationship and this elephant certainly didn’t mind. While using the soft light from the passing clouds, I began to compose images similar to what I had in mind before coming here. As usual, nature always does it better. Photo © copyright by Derek Nielsen