Photograph of the Month - July 2010
September 1, 2010
I decided on this image because of the circumstances surrounding the shot as well as the fact that I had stumbled upon this most breathtaking of scenes. The day in question was a little quiet both on my vehicle and in terms of animal sightings. This combination is the worst case scenario for a guide, it is awful. It is one thing if your guests are not very talkative or English is not their first language but combined with a lack of things to see and it becomes stressful.
I almost did not stop to take this picture. Now that would have been sad. We had, as already mentioned, not seen very much and I felt it would be selfish of me to stop and take a photograph. In reality I doubt it was an inconvenience, who would oppose stopping for a moment to soak up this view. It took less than a minute to take this photograph, no tripod or fussing about. I jumped out of the vehicle and ran over to the edge of the water, kneeled down and took three shots.
This brings me to what I really want to talk about. The importance of consistency, in everything and not just cake mixture. For me to succeed at my job I need to be consistent; treating each guest as the other, understanding the importance of my role in their experience and always giving of my best. If I got that right all the time then I would really be at the top of my game.
The work I do is not only about showing people the animals, that is the easy bit. It is about interpreting what they see, introducing them to the vast array of lifestyles that occupy this wild place. There is purpose to every action and guides should translate that. It is certainly much easier for me to write this thoughtfully than to try and convey a similar message to a Land Rover filled with an assortment of nationalities. Each with their own set of expectations and level of interest.
I cannot expect to deliver the same experience to everyone. That would be useless as the dynamics and individuals change from day to day. Just as the happenings of nature while on safari are unexpected and unpredictable. I can however strive to produce a consistently informative and exciting experience on my part. The challenge lies in turning an ordinary day into an extraordinary day and without assuming the limelight.
So while I try to achieve success in my photography I am also looking at other positive life forces. I think consistency is vital to any form of success; in relationships, parenting, work ethic, self-preservation and any number of roles. How sad would it have been if I had not stopped to take this photograph!
There are no animals in this photograph but I can assure you that this waterhole has been the scene of many remarkable sightings. At this moment, it was the light and weather that stole our attention and despite the lack of animals, we felt just as close to nature.
Posted by Ian Shoebotham. Posted In : Photograph of the Month
