Gallery: seeing Botswana in black and white
Black and white photography is truly quite a ‘departure from reality’
Ansel Adams
Some photographic subjects are obvious candidates for black and white, others seem better suited to colour. But sometimes it’s interesting to choose a subject or destination that appears to cry out for colour and experiment with some monochrome edits. The results may surprise you!
The natural world (plants, animals, landscapes) may seem to be all about colour, but strip that away and you start to notice other aspects. Textures and shapes take centre stage as the colours recede. It isn’t that one version is better than the other, they each have their value, in my view. Sometimes it’s good to make that ‘departure from reality’ that Adams commends.
This week Leanne is making some changes to her Monochrome Madness challenge by introducing themes. The first of these is ‘The letter B’ so I’ve decided to play around with some favourite images from Botswana. And while zebras may seem an obvious choice, the others are hopefully less so.
All these images were shot originally in colour and edited with Nik Silver Efex Pro
Zebras, Chobe National Park
Landscape with elephant, Okavango Delta
Elephant drinking, Okavango Delta
A closer look at an elephant’s trunk, Chobe National Park
Elephant family, Chobe National Park
Landscape with bare trees, Okavango Delta
Papyrus, Okavango Delta
Waterlily, Okavango Delta
Lioness in a tree, Chobe National Park
Baboon mother and baby, Chobe National Park
Fish eagle, Chobe National Park
Hippo, Okavango Delta
Buffalo skull, Okavango Delta
Papyrus stems, Okavango Delta
What better to finish with than sunset over the Okavango Delta?
I visited Botswana in 2018
67 Comments
rkrontheroad
You have such a feel for black and white images! The zebras, of course, are my favorites, but the buffalo skull and papyrus reflections are up there too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😊 I think an eye for black and white is something you develop gradually, the more you use it!
Marie
Another amazing selection – I think my favourite is the bare tree….
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Marie, that seems a generally popular choice 😃
wetanddustyroads
The zebra does indeed make the perfect B&W photo, but I like the landscape photo with the bare trees just as much. Lovely selection of photos Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I do think bare trees often work well in B&W 😀
equinoxio21
Wonderful. The first zebra in particular. A friend of my eldest daughter once asked me: “Is it true that Africa is like an ‘illness’, that you never get over it?”.
I said “yes”.
Kwaheri Memsahib. (bye, ma’am)
Sarah Wilkie
I’ve heard that and other similar things said about the continent. Including by Karen Blixen in ‘Out of Africa’ I think, although I may be misremembering
equinoxio21
Blixen definitely never got over it. I know many people, including myself to some extent, who never did.
SoyBend
Nicely shown in black and white, Sarah. I liked your first zebra shot and the one of the bare trees. They look great in monochrome.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Siobhan, glad you liked them. I’m rather fond of that zebra shot, he turned at just the right moment!
Leanne Cole
I’ve never been SArah, so thank you for sharing it with us.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you liked the virtual visit Leanne 😊
Amy
Beautiful in B&W! Love these creature, they are beautifully captured. Elephant family photo is so sweet!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Amy – I love those elephants too, very sweet as you say 🙂
Dawn M. Miller
Wonderful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Dawn 🙂
grandmisadventures
love, love, love the baby elephants!!! all the pictures are beautiful but elephants, especially baby elephants will always have my heart 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
I’m with you on that, Meg 🙂 Baby elephants are just so cute 🐘🐘
ourcrossings
This is such a wonderful post with so many amazing photos. Observing these animals in their natural habitat can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many as all of us have a favourite animal that we have always dreamed of seeing. Zebras and elephants are high on my list. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Aiva 😊 You’re right, it’s a special experience to see these animals in their own homes. My favourites are the elephants and the big cats like lions, but all of them are wonderful to observe!
leightontravels
Lovely atmospheric selection, Sarah. I was half expecting a Newcastle shirt to pop up somewhere along the way 😉 What an incredibly majestic sea eagle, it seems to be striking a particularly proud pose for you. Also love the tree lioness, what had she spotted?
Sarah Wilkie
No Newcastle shirts in Botswana, although we did see one in Gambia (but that’s another story!) Not sure what the lioness was looking at but most likely some antelopes or other deer on the far side of the river.
thehungrytravellers.blog
If I had to pick a favourite here, Sarah, it would the skull. That one really is enhanced by the b/w treatment, makes it even more haunting. Great collection again …
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Phil – that’s one that I feel is actually improved by the monochrome edit whereas the others look as good in colour, or better in some cases.
restlessjo
This is a lovely way to revisit a holiday, Sarah. The ellies, of course, are captivating in any medium, and I love the close up details. I especially like the naked trees too, and the sea eagle looks wonderfully commanding in black and white. Soon be tequila time! Have fun!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Jo 😊 For some reason this comment ended up in my ‘pending’ folder, awaiting moderation! I know you love ellies too 🐘 and I’m glad you enjoyed the trees and sea eagle shots.
restlessjo
I seem to spend a lot of time dipping in and out of Spam folders these days, but I get there in the end 🤣🩵
Anonymous
Fine set!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
bushboy
OK Just made it too hard. It all started with the first Elephant photo, which of course I just love, then onward and “I’ll add that one as well to favourites”
I gave up as I love them all 😍
I now think I should add a border to my black and whites. It does make them look better and more defined 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Brian 😊 I do like a thin border on my shots – white if using a dark background, black or grey on a white one. I learned the trick from an online photography club lecture during Covid!
bushboy
and I have learnt it from you thank you Sarah 🥰
Paul
Wonderful collection Sarah, Love the black and white.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Paul 🙂
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Really emphasises the zebras’ stripes.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Anabel 🙂
Suzanne
I agree with Nilla the zebra image is absolutely stunning and I can image being surrounded by animals in their natural habitat would be a life time experience.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Suzanne 😊 I love seeing animals in their natural settings – we’ve done a few safaris and I’m absolutely up for more one day if I can just persuade my husband!
Image Earth Travel
The photos work well in B&W (or was that monochrome these days…). I particularly love your first zebra shot!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I prefer to say B&W as I argue that any colour can be called monochrome if it’s the ONLY colour in a shot!
Image Earth Travel
Totally agree Sarah but does that make us old school? 😉
Pat
What a great capture.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Pat – I’m curious though which of these shots you’re referring to?
Pat
When I wrote the comment I was in my reader and responded to the zebra looking back. After I looked at your whole post I realized that there were a number of stunning photos that I could also say that about. I just went back to look at them all and I think I still your lead one best. Maybe it reflects my current mood. Chuckle, chuckle.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks for clarifying Pat 😀
Graham Stephen
wonderful1
🦓🐘🦁🐒🦅🦛
-✧✦☆❖◈❋✤☆✦-∞-♡-∞-✦☆✤❋◈❖☆✦✧-
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Graham 😀
Anne Sandler
They all looked great in B&W Sarah, but I loved, loved, loved the elephants!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne – the ellies are my favourites too 🐘
Monkey's Tale
Another great selection for black and white. I love the papyrus stems and bate trees in Okavango Delta. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie, glad you enjoyed them 🙂
margaret21
You’ve chosen your subjects well. They all look terrific. Yes – and surprisingly to me – even the sunset.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Margaret 😊 I’m chuffed to have surprised you with that sunset!
margaret21
😀
Alison
They all look brilliant in black and white. I loved the sunset and was surprised how stunning it still looked
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Alison – I love that sunset photo in colour but the clouds are so dramatic I felt it would be worth trying in black and white too 😊
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
These are beautiful black and white images, The zebras, the elephant shots and the bare tree are lovely captures and edits.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Ritva, I’m happy you liked them 😊
Teresa
This is so good Sarah. I kept on scrolling back and forth especially the elephant’s ears, trunk… Love it!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Teresa 😊 I do find that elephants work particularly well in black and white, their skin texture is so fascinating!
Teresa
I know… the texture not just the elephant but all your captures are amazing 👍
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😘
the eternal traveller
What an adventure you must have had. These images are simply amazing.
Sarah Wilkie
Botswana is a stunning country and the wildlife awesome! Thank you for that lovely feedback on these images 😊
satyam rastogi
Beautiful post beautiful pictures 🌹
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂