1st Place winner
Zebras in the Dust
DESCRIPTION
We were on Safari in Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana, Africa near the Boteti River. We were enjoying the sunset and all of a sudden a herd of Zebra started running towards the water, creating a lot of dust and this gave a special atmosphere to this amazing landscape. Magic! Three sub-species of zebra (the Burchell’s, Grevy’s and Mountain zebras) still occur on the continent of Africa where they live in a wide range of habitats like woodland, hills, grasslands, mountains and savannahs. The most widespread and numerous of the three species is the Burchell’s, also known as the Plains or Common Zebra. Zebras walk, trot, canter and gallop although they are generally slower than horses, although they can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. During the dry season, from April to October, the Boteti River near the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana, is the only permanent source of water for miles around and water means life. As the pans in the area dry from April onwards, tens of thousands of zebras complete their journey at the river, followed closely by herds of wildebeest and their accompanying predators. They gather at the river in an explosion of black and white stripes. This is a truly remarkable game viewing, attracting a rich array of resident game and a procession of migratory wanderers.The rumble of hooves heralds the arrival of the zebra and wildebeest and while making this picture, I was sitting on the top of a cliff overlooking the Boteti River and in a split second the scene came together. Zebras going down the hill eager for having a drink and other zebra s going up again after their well-deserved refreshment. As the Sun was setting, the sky coloured all shades of red and orange. The dust added a magical atmosphere. Astonishing. Wow.
AUTHOR
My name is Karin Van Couwenberg and I live in Antwerp, situated in the northern part of Belgium. For me, nature and wildlife photography started simply as a way to record my adventures and trips so I could remember and revisit them for years to come. What started as an afterthought gradually evolved into a consuming passion.GREAT NEWS: our third book, The Magic of Life is ready! Please go to www.wildlife-photography.be if you would like to order. (40 euro per book + extra shipment costs)
We thank Jane Goodall for the foreword, her support and wisdom that we will never forget, reminding us that every little bit counts. Proceeds from this book will go to the Jane Goodall "Roots & Shoots" Foundation as well as “Tchimpounga Chimpanzee rehabilitation Center".
Our third book is a tribute to the wildlife and the beauty of our Earth. As Wildlife photographers, it is our duty to use the power of the visual storytelling and share the beauty that we encounter. We are bringing a compilation of photos taken in various regions such as Botswana, Yellowstone, Belgium, United Kingdom, Alaska, Finland, Norway, … to raise awareness about the importance of protecting environment, fauna and flora on our Planet Earth.
We wanted to reduce the costs as much as possible and this is also the reason why the book will only be available from our websites, social media and via private distribution.
The book consists of 200 pages, full color and printed on premium paper, measurements 24 cm x 30 cm and with a hardcover and image wrap.
I hope you'll enjoy my photographs and don’t forget to visit my website from time to time because it will be updated on a regular basis. Thank you for taking this journey with me today.