THE FAMILY ALBUM OF WILD AFRICA
The untamed beauty of a powerful and vulnerable nature is delivered in this series on African wildlife through nearly a thousand photographs taken by Laurent Baheux during years of reporting since 2002.
I chose to go to Africa to immerse myself in the life-size wildlife that I had so dreamed of as a child. The epic tales of explorers, captivating documentaries and striking images in books had transported me to a world of natural wonders. But nothing could match the experience of seeing it with my own eyes.
I was not disappointed. As soon as my feet touched African soil, I felt a new energy, a deep connection with the land and its inhabitants. Everything was beautiful, simple, peaceful and authentic. Every sunrise painted the sky in flamboyant hues, every breeze brought with it the enchanting scents of the savannah, and every encounter with wildlife was a lesson in humility and respect.
Seeing wildlife in its natural environment was a real shock. Nothing could have prepared my heart for the majesty of lions basking in the morning sun, the grace of elephants crossing the plains at dusk, or the strength of rhinos, solitary guardians of the vast wilderness. Every moment was a symphony of life, a sacred dance between predator and prey, life and death, balance and chaos.
My personal and professional lives were turned upside down. The experience opened my eyes to the urgent need to preserve these natural treasures for future generations. Since then, I've tried to go wherever nature expresses itself freely and abundantly, from Africa to the glaciers of the Arctic. Each encounter with wildlife reinforces my conviction that we are all linked, that the survival of each species is intimately linked to our own survival, and that we all have a responsibility to protect our planet, our only home.
So every journey, every moment spent in the heart of nature, is a celebration of life in all its diversity and beauty. Every photograph captured, every story shared, is a call to action, a reminder of our responsibility to the Earth that nourishes, inspires and defines us.
Sculpted by the luminous magic of black and white, the photos offer a poignant facet of this fragile and fascinating continent. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, zebra, giraffe, gnous, rhino or hippopotamus, from Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa or Namibia make up this album presented by species.
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