Page 4 - Capture magazine Aug-Sep-Oct 21

ANIMALS
presented by
WINNER
BEE ELLE
Bee Elle specialises in wildlife and conservation photography. Her passion stems from a lifelong and profound respect for animals and a strongly-felt connection with wide-open spaces and the fauna that call these places home. A sensitive and empathetic observer of nature, she focusses on portraiture of animals in their natural habitats. Her signature approach of combining natural elements with various treatments of light and shadow allow her to express her respect for animals through her own style, and to evoke in others a deeper inquiry into, and appreciation for, the lives of our fellow animals in their natural way of being. Her photography is her main vehicle to creatively express her fondness of animals and to create calls to action to protect wildlife and the natural world.
www.bee-elle.com
Turn to Dust is a photograph that represents the fragility of life and the plight of the African elephant. During a beautiful encounter with this wild African elephant, I watched as he dust-bathed. The clouds of dirt he hurled quickly dispersed and seemingly vanished as they fell. This represented to me their fragile existence and the unjust swiftness with which their species could quickly disappear and become extinct due to the ivory trade.
I photographed this elephant on the South African veld and applied treatments to light, shadow, and blacks and whites to highlight the essence of this magnificent creature in his free and natural way of being, and the need to protect all elephants before they turn to dust.
WHAT THE JUDGES THOUGHT
In this beautiful portrait of an elephant dusting itself, it is the exceptional use of light that has turned an otherwise common occurrence on the African plains into a rather extraordinary capture.
Strong directional light accentuates the wonderful textures and shapes of this pachyderm’s skin and tusk, but it is the dust, captured against an otherwise dark background, that adds a beautiful softness to this image. Like most great photos, I think many of us will enjoy this image for a long time.
– Anthony McKee
This image captures fantastic drama as particles of dirt and rock are thrown into the air. The close-up crop works really well here to make the most of the scene and moment without providing any unnecessary distraction. The character of the elephant’s skin and beautiful grasses below provide all the contextual information needed.
– Matt Palmer
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[capture] aug_oct.20