Drawn Swords
Medium: Archival Pigment Print, Silver Gelatin
Year: 2023
Drawn Swords is an image I have been dreaming of making for several years. Even during my three years working in one of Africa's most renowned rhino conservancies, the moment I desired illuded me. The closest I ever got was quite the opposite of this frame, where two rhinos stood back to back. With male white rhinos being territorial, I knew the only chance of creating such an image would be during a fight, which is rarely witnessed. I couldn't believe my eyes as we drove over the brow of a hill to see these two huge males approaching one another. I worked from a side-on perspective to create as much symmetry and balance as possible while including as much of the sky as possible. Even though a brief fight was about to break out, there was a real sense of serenity at the point where the horns crossed. It was one of those moments where I immediately knew the final piece of the puzzle had slotted into place.