The Moment Between Moments
Some of my most treasured images aren't the perfect wildlife shots but the in-between moments that tell a deeper story. At Kenya's Solio Game Reserve, while photographing rhinos, I turned to find Corey transfixed. She wasn't shooting. She wasn't adjusting settings. She was simply watching.
In that instant, I switched my focus from the rhinos to capture her—standing beside our Land Cruiser, telephoto lens at rest, completely absorbed in the scene before her. The image shows what's often missing from polished wildlife portfolios: the raw experience of being there.
Beyond the Perfect Shot
As wildlife photographers, we chase the perfect image—the sharp eye, the ideal light, the decisive moment. But this pursuit can sometimes disconnect us from the very experiences that drew us to wildlife photography.
Corey's moment of pure observation reminds me why we do this work. Before we are photographers, we are witnesses. The camera documents, but our eyes and hearts experience. Between the clicking shutters and lens changes are quiet moments of awe that rarely make it to our portfolios but form the core of our connection to these animals and places.
The Solio Experience
Solio Reserve sits between Mount Kenya and the Aberdares, offering extraordinary rhino viewing opportunities. The reserve houses both black and white rhinos in a protected sanctuary where they can breed safely away from poaching pressures.
What makes Solio special isn't just the wildlife density but the setting—open grasslands against mountains and water create a backdrop that feels almost dreamlike. The reserve's limited visitor numbers mean encounters feel intimate and unhurried, allowing for these quiet moments of connection.
Creating Core Memories
When Corey later described this as "creating core memories," it perfectly captured what wildlife photography at its best offers us. Long after the images are edited and shared, what remains are these sensory experiences—the morning light, the smell of grass, the weight of the camera temporarily set aside, and the privilege of simply watching.
These core memories fuel our passion more than any perfect shot. They connect us to places and creatures that need our advocacy. They remind us why conservation matters on a deeply personal level.
Have you experienced moments where you set your camera down just to watch? I'd love to hear about times when the experience itself became more important than documenting it.
For those planning African wildlife experiences, remember to build in time to simply observe. Your memory card may hold fewer images, but your actual memories will be richer for it.
