If the crocodile doesn't come out of the water, you won't know how fat it is; if the leopard doesn't come out of the water, you won't know how fast it is.
photography: Lou Coetzer
It's been 'housebound' for a while, longing for a trip, telling a 'animal world' story.
January 2020, Masai Mara.
A robust female zebra crossed from the Mara Triangle to the Great Mara River. She had to cross the Mara River.
A fat crocodile lay in wait underwater, swimming quickly and biting her right knee. With only a few meters from the shore, in the last desperate effort to escape, she powerfully jumped up and fell heavily onto the rocks on the shore, her knee torn, with blood splashed everywhere.
She fell to the riverbank, collapsing to the ground.
The crocodile left the water slowly, and in this slow-motion blank moment, a male leopard suddenly rushed over, like a lightning bolt.
He killed her, dragging her away from the frustrated crocodile.
In the stunned silence, he was quite awkward. His left leg was clearly injured, limping. He stalked the unfortunate female zebra with a similarly injured leg, to obtain some urgently needed food to sustain his body.
In an instant, you can see the truth after you look closely, and the name of this picture will not be just a simple word, 'hunt'.
The crocodile doesn't come out of the water, you don't know how fat it is. The Mara River-side hunting is like a 'shortcut'. The prey is exhausted and disoriented. With less physical exertion, it's easier to succeed. Even elderly or injured 'big cats' can linger for a while. The leopard doesn't come out, you don't know how fast it is.
Golden Eyephotography: Lou Coetzer
road (Lou Coetzer)I heard a long time ago that a photographer who has been stationed in Africa. We almost met at the 'Overland Camp' in Masai Mara.
Because we both like professional photographers' vehicles, there was one at 'Overland Camp' at that time, so I went to see it. I saw his works in the photographer's studio just after he left the team.
CPN professional photography vehicle
Photographer's one thousand pieces of material, maybe there will be one that he likes. Most of the time, their works are mediocre.
I have given up photography myself, but I have been collecting African works of professional photographers. For me, this kind of trip is like diving, you can still see and feel.
The beauty of the love is in sharing. In the process of sharing, these boring and difficult processes seem wonderful.
Below are some of the ordinary works shot by road Lou who has been stationed in Africa for a long time. Those who are not familiar with them cannot see the story, only see the picture.
Elephant's Home
A tree, three elephants, it's going to rain.
Cuddling
Three chubby guys cuddling, rare 'black-backed jackals' everyday. They usually come out hunting in pairs.
Zebra crossing the Mara River
Zebra crossing the river is common, often zebras always look smarter than rhinos. They have good memory, people in a hurry don't have time to notice.
Full Speed
The leopard five brothers in Masai Mara, almost every photographer who stays in Masai Mara for a while will go to take pictures of them. I like to give them Chinese names: Full Speed 5.
The world is so quiet
These two years, the elephant herds in Masai Mara suddenly increased. Although here, you can't see elephants like those long tusks in Chovat or Amboseli, the elephant herds walk across the grasslands, which is really pleasant.
The world suddenly fell silent.
Born to run
New born baby gazelles, just stood up. It's very easy to become the target of hunting. Following the prey, you will discover the hunters.
Photographers don't always have harvests, most of the time, they need to study the weather, terrain, the habits of the shooting objects. Most of the time, they live very simply in Masai Mara and have no complaints. On the contrary, tourists.
The weather is so good
No color-corrected lion pictures, plain and genuine. You can feel the temperature of the sunshine on it.
Masai Mara is the favorite home of many photographers who have been stationed in Africa. Most of the time, the scenery here is calm and unpredictable. Every day's beginning is a new day for photographers, they will never be tired. Deeply immersed, can't help it.
Unless one day, really wants a big hamburger with fries, a freshly baked pizza, or a feast of unlimited lamb rolls. They will consider returning to the city like a normal person for a few days.
road's photography studio
