We had stopped for a drink after wandering around Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Now, most people would assume that after spending time in a rhino sanctuary, the obvious thing to do would be to keep thinking about rhinos.
Not me.
Somewhere in my imagination, a tiny brass band struck up, announcing the arrival of the Great Marvo and his lovely assistant Flutty.
Two butterflies, fluttering and dipping above the flowers, putting on what looked for all the world like a carefully choreographed performance.
So naturally, while surrounded by one of Africa’s great conservation projects, I found myself standing there watching the smaller act.
And that, in many ways, says quite a lot about how I work.
I’d already seen some lovely rhinos and had been struck by what a remarkable place Ziwa is. A real conservation project, doing real work, and perhaps planting a few seeds in my mind at the same time.
But while everyone talks about the headline act, I’m often distracted by the supporting cast.
That’s where photography becomes interesting for me. Not just in the big, expected moments, but in the little surprises happening off to one side.
So there I was, drink in hand, watching Marvo and Flutty perform their aerial routine above the flowers.
Rhinos are impressive. But sometimes it’s the smaller performers who steal the show.
Behind the Photograph · A Wilder Eye