'Victoria Falls, Africa's widest waterfall, lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The land entering the frame on the right is Zimbabwe; I am photographing from the Zambian side, across a kind of inlet. What you cannot see is an edge that curves from my position to the left, toward the elephant. The water cascading down comes from the Zambezi, a deep, fast-flowing river. It makes a deafening roar. That is why the falls are also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which roughly means ‘the smoke that thunders.’
It was 2008. I was there with my wife, with whom I organize tours for nature photographers. At first, I did not feel like photographing the falls. They have been photographed a million times, so just try making an image that is even slightly different. Then local residents told us that an elephant had been spotted. Before traveling to a country or location, I prepare thoroughly, and the elephant is my favorite animal—so I knew a photo of an elephant at the falls would be unique.
No, the elephant is not lost. The Zambezi's water level fluctuates with the seasons. During the dry season, it drops considerably, revealing small islands covered in fresh vegetation. Elephants cannot resist and move from island to island to eat the plants and trees. The elephant is actually standing at the far edge of the river, which is now behind him.
Several elements come together in the photo. The early-morning light is not only warm; I was also able to shoot into the light, making the mist clearly visible. The elephant could not be standing in a better place: there is more space in front of him than behind him, so he looks naturally into the open area. His pose is good too: rather than showing me his rear, he presents a clear silhouette, with all four legs, his trunk, and his tail visible.
But the most important element is the location's dazzling grandeur. My ideal nature photograph combines landscape and wildlife photography: a beautiful landscape containing an animal. Even without the elephant, this would still be a good photo. The scene is so remarkable that people sometimes wonder whether I Photoshopped the animal into it. Even the locals nearly fell off their chairs when I showed them the photo. But just like patience—I was able to make the photo on the third day, which was actually quite quick—luck is also something a nature photographer sometimes needs.'
Name: Marsel van Oosten (1967)
Place of residence: Amsterdam
Info: www.squiver.com
