The ‘Skye’ is the limit for local photographer
Local resident takes first, second and third place at wildlife photography competition.
A CAPTIVATING shot of two male elephants, tusks interlocked in a stand-off amid a cloud of dust in the Ambosselli Game Reserve in Kenya, has been named the best photograph taken in Africa for the year in the Nature’s Best Photographer Africa U13 competition.
The photo, titled ‘Dancing Elephants’, was snapped by Durban North shutterbug, Skye Meaker, who won first place for his amazing picture.
What’s more, the Northlands Primary School pupil also won second place for his picture of a walking leopard and third place for his picture of a crocodile and a zebra in a life-or-death tussle. The American-based competition attracted photographers from around the world, with the only restriction being photographs taken of free-roaming animals in Africa.
The 13-year-old’s photographs will now be on exhibition at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town for a month. The Grade 7 pupil also won a a week’s photographic safaris at a big five private game reserve. This is the second top honour for Skye after being named as a finalist in last year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
“This was the first time I entered the competition. A photographer recommended I enter, but I didn’t expect this. I was hoping my photos would appear at the exhibition but this surpassed my expectations. When I got the call from the competition selector, he said I’d won third place and I was excited, but then he also said I’d won second and first places and I was over the moon and extremely happy,” enthused Skye.
He explained the idea behind calling his picture ‘Dancing Elephants’.
“I took this photograph while on safari in Kenya. At first, these elephants were just walking towards me, but as they came closer they started to push each other and eventually started fighting. This was my first experience of elephants fighting, and I was worried that they might knock into our vehicle.
“The two males fought for quite a while and eventually started to move off as quietly as they arrived. I like this picture because it looks as though these two elephants are dancing with each other. I really like the dust being kicked up as they moved on the ground, pushing each other,” he explained.
