Before Man

David Yarrow:

"'Before Man' is the right title for this congested scene around a watering hole in Savute, Botswana. Finding the ideal location was key to this concept, and the bank offered just the right amount of depth.

Our preconception was not far from the final image, though I never expected giraffes to appear. It was key to capture the elephants in enough light for meaningful depth of field, but not so stark a light that facial shadows impinged on the quality of the narrative. 11 o’clock was a good time, because elephants like to bathe and drink then, and the light is much kinder than the hotter periods of the day. I got as close to the animals as I could without altering their behaviour, and the 58mm was the perfect lens. At F11 or F16 it allowed for pin sharp focus in the lead bull while also capturing the distant elephants and giraffes in the focal field.

This photograph plays homage to the romanticist’s Africa and the monochrome adds to its timeless authority".