Haha
Sony A1, FE 200-600mm G OSS, Focal Length: 365mm, Shutter: 1/1250s, Aperture: F7, ISO 2,500
He turned to bite at the buzzing fly as it landed on his back, suddenly noticing me behind.
Haha is a Xitsonga word meaning "fly" in English - fly in the ointment, minor irritation, or setback.
Traversing the bushy slopes of the west side near our camp, it was not easy to spot the inhabitants of this unique piece of paradise. The African bush can be moody, showing its best at times and then hiding at will. Though fairly abundant, some of its smaller members can be almost impossible to see, especially those that can be well camouflaged.
So it was a pleasant surprise, as we weaved through some of the more thorny bush, to come across this young, maturing steenbok nibbling at some of the foliage in front of it. Having spotted only the tiniest movement, we quietly pressed closer to see this lovely little creature in its full setting. As we stopped, still a fair distance away, it turned suddenly, attempting to snap at a passing fly that kept landing on its back. Instantly, it became aware of our presence. Seemingly unbothered, though, it took a few more bites of the foliage in front, using subtle shivers to fend off the unwelcome guest. With little success in removing the cause of its distraction and our presence now given away, it made a few more attempts to chase the fly off, gave us one last look, and suddenly scampered off into some of the denser bush on the fringes further away.
Steenbok are one of the smallest bucks around, often described as being abundant, yet not very often nor easily seen (or approached). So discovering this beauty was a real pleasure for me. Watching the antelope with the gentle ambient light and the summery scene around us impressed me with a scene of tranquility and beauty, even though the subject for me was a buzzing fly vs. the buck’s presence. Perhaps the fly gave me the opportunity to spend a few more precious seconds capturing this little character before departing the scene. I will never know.
Raw Africa Collection
Welcome to Africa - the wise, the restless, and the life-giving.
This soulful land of dreamers gives rise to the underbelly of a beautiful, gentle beat that is only heard by those who listen to it. This photographic journey explores, profiles, and captures what I hope is the heart and soul of Africa's true wilderness kingdom. From its deep bush to its dry savannah and desert, Africa remains a place where life is represented by timeless vistas that are distilled into moments to treasure.
