Not Today – African Elephant Wildlife Fine Art Photography, South Africa Print, Limited Edition Color and Black & White

Not Today – African Elephant Wildlife Fine Art Photography, South Africa Print, Limited Edition Color and Black & White

The hyenas had been patient. For nearly twenty minutes they circled the water's edge, cautious, waiting for a moment to drink. The elephant had been there first.

The watering hole is the most vulnerable place in the African landscape. Every animal that approaches does so with caution — aware of what the open ground means, aware of who else might be there. I had found a position on the hill above and stayed still. Long enough to watch the lone elephant settle at the water. Long enough to see the hyenas emerge slowly from the bush, one by one, and begin their patient negotiation for space at the edge.

Then the elephant's manner changed. A shift — subtle at first, then unmistakable. The hyena closest to the water moved too close. What came next I did not anticipate. The trunk rose and the water exploded outward in an arc.
I had no idea he was going to spray. I had no idea I had captured it until later.

Shot on Kodak Portra 160. South Africa, 2019. The color original was converted to black and white as a deliberate creative choice — the tonal range of the Portra negative translates the raw drama of the moment into something more elemental. Both versions are available. This is one listing, one edition, both versions counted together.

Edition: Each limited edition print is hand-signed and numbered by the artist. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies every print. Once the edition sells out it is permanently retired. This edition is strictly limited to 50 prints across both versions combined.
Medium: Fine art photography — Kodak Portra 160, South Africa, 2019. Color original with black and white creative conversion.
Size: Available in six sizes. Select your size and version from the dropdown menu above.
Paper: Black & white version — all sizes printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta 325, the closest inkjet equivalent to a traditional darkroom fiber print. Deep blacks, open shadows, archival permanence.
Color version — all sizes printed on Hahnemühle Photo Luster 290, a premium fine art paper with exceptional color saturation and archival permanence.

About the Artist: Harry Johansing is a California-based photographer with a life spent with a camera — self-taught, experimental, working across film and digital. His photography has taken him across California, Mexico, Central America, and sub-Saharan Africa. His prints are held in private collections internationally, including those of noted public figures and working artists.

Explore the full body of work: harryjohansing.com

Framing: Prints are sold unframed. Frames shown in product images are for display only. Many collectors choose to frame locally to match their space.

© Harry Johansing. All photographs and prints are copyrighted. Purchase does not transfer copyright or reproduction rights.

Connected pair: This photograph was made at the same watering hole as The Gathering — South Africa, 2019. The companion piece is available separately.