I still vividly recall my first time close
encounter with a lion in the wild, and the satisfaction that I felt when I took
that almost perfect picture of him hiding in the tall grass, his mane glistening
in the evening sun. Because it got me hooked on photography. While attending the
Wildlife Film Academy, in Entabeni, South Africa, I was curious to find out what
this experience had been like for the locals that I met. Why is it that
whatever experience people seek with wild animals –be it on TV, in zoos or even
the African wildlife safari – an encounter with the lion remains high on the
list?
As a conservationist I’ve had the opportunity
to interact with many local communities in east Africa, and see the rich
interplay between man, his culture and his environment. As an African, I realize that there are
hundreds of great stories told about our planet, just not enough from an
African perspective. As an
aspiring documentary maker, who has made a number of short films, in
collaboration with and for local communities, I would like to see a day when
there will be more stories from Africa, told the African way.
