Heading back to the lodge late one afternoon in the Maasai Mara, I came across four zebras standing in a line on the open plain. They held still as if posing for a group photo. Three faced the camera. One was caught mid-yawn, which in the frame looks a lot like a laugh.
Plains zebras live in family groups and gather in large herds on the grasslands of East Africa. Every zebra's stripes are unique, like a fingerprint, and scientists still debate why they evolved: to confuse predators, deter biting flies or help keep the animals cool. Standing together, their patterns merge into one block of black and white.
What I like about this image is the balance between the group and the individual. Four bodies, four patterns, lined up in a row, and one small moment of personality that turns a wildlife scene into something funny and human.
It is a characterful, graphic print with a soft blue sky and green plain behind. It brings a smile to a living room, kids' room, hallway or office, and makes a great gift for anyone who has been on safari in Kenya.
THE PRINT
Archival pigment print (giclée) on museum-grade fine art paper. Limited edition of 30. Hand-signed and numbered by John Wiseman and issued with a signed certificate of authenticity.
SIZE
Image size 76 x 51 cm (30 x 20 in). Other sizes are available. Please enquire.
DELIVERY AND FRAMING
Made to order in Sydney, Australia. Shipped unframed, rolled in a protective tube. Custom framing in natural timber, black or white can be added through Bluethumb.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
John Wiseman is an award-winning Australian wildlife and nature photographer with more than 25 years in the field, photographing across six continents. Winner, Science & Nature, International Loupe Awards. Represented by IRID Gallery, Melbourne and Sydney.