Stunning silhouettes show animals of Africa at sunrise and sunset

  • Published

Wildlife photographer Greg Du Toit has captured powerful images of silhouetted animals in southern and eastern Africa to show "the mystery and intrigue of Africa."

Silhouette photo of a landscapeImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of a lionImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com

The animals, including lions, giraffes, flamingos, elephants, leopards, rhinoceros and zebras, are illuminated against sunrises and sunsets in a range of hues.

Silhouette photo of elephantsImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of a hippoImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com

The photos are part of a wider series called Dusk to Dawn and were shot in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia.

Mr Du Toit told Media Drum news agency: "I simply want to convey the incredible diversity, mystery and wonder that I feel for my wild subjects.

"What the camera has the power to do, through silhouette photography, is to simply de-clutter our world."

Silhouette photo of batsImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of giraffesImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of a lionImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of flamingosImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com

In his work, Du Toit specialises in lowlight imagery, spending hours to get the perfect timings for his photos.

Silhouette photo of a rhinoImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of zebrasImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of a landscapeImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com

Du Toit previously won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize in 2013, with his photo entitled Essence of Elephants.

Silhouette photo of a landscapeImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com

Two dramatic photos from his Dusk to Dawn series show an injured wildebeest evading a fire that swept across the grass plains of Serengeti, which cover southern and eastern Africa.

Silhouette photo of a wildebeestImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com

He said: "We noticed one wildebeest not running away [from the fire], on closer inspection we discovered that it had a broken front left leg.

"I watched in horror as the flames almost engulfed the animal before it finally ran away."

Silhouette photo of a wildebeestImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of a landscapeImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com
Presentational white space
Silhouette photo of a sky sunsetImage source, Greg Du Toit/mediadrumworld.com