KUFUATA 👣

A young cub, followed by his mother, draws the attention of the pride's male as they pass by.

In the late African afternoon, a pride rests quietly in the shady offerings of the nearby bush. A cub leads ahead of its mother, and as they pass the male, he rises from his place, briefly sensing her, and slowly ambles behind as they find another place to lie down for respite from the heat. The cub oozes confidence, with his place in the pride safe and secure at this difficult time of the season.

Kufuata refers "to follow" in Swahili, and, in a way, looking at this composition reminds me of how life moves full circle. Time determines a species' survival; protecting the young and the act of siring can be powerful instincts. Nature reminds us how temporary everything really is and that a healthy balance in life is also key to its experience while we are all here. We'd been quietly watching this pride for a while, and what struck me was the strong sense of community among the cubs. The females were well aware of and respectful of the dominant male. He was not alone, though; his brother, also part of this pride, was away at the time I was filming. As a result, the duties of pride and possibly affection were strong between them and the incumbent male. As the setting sun moved further away, members of the pride occasionally shifted from one spot to another within the area, finding cover that would provide protection from the searing late afternoon heat. When doing so, they frequently took a moment to touch those nearby in acknowledgement - a true sense of their pride for me.

RAW AFRICA COLLECTION

Welcome to Africa - the wise, the restless, 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 for 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.