Elephant — Heartfelt Stories Photography Blog

We are all connected.

Stories about the power of nature to heal both ourselves and our environment, is one of the goals of my wildlife photography.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, conservation, storytelling, Africa, ElephantsKathy KarnOctober 26, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, Elephant, Africa, climate change Comments

Black and White or Colour? The photographer’s dilemma.

The choice to process an image in black and white comes with experimentation post processing. What is my intention? How can I best convey the mood, the emotion? Here’s the story behind my decision to choose black and white for this image of a magnificent bull elephant from Amboseli.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, conservation, storytelling, Africa, ElephantsKathy KarnOctober 19, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, Elephant, Africa, climate change, human wildlife conflict, black and white photography Comments

If you can sing, you can dance.

There is a visceral sense of joy and healing that comes with African singing and dancing. When I’m in Kenya and people begin to dance, I can’t help but join in. My feet tap, my head and shoulders bob to the music. I sing along even when I don’t know the language. It is contagious! It is joyful. It connects us to others. It builds community.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, conservation, storytelling, AfricaKathy KarnOctober 12, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, Elephant, trauma & healing, Africa, Singing, DancingComment

If Audrey Hepburn were an animal ......

If Audrey Hepburn were an animal, I think she’d be a giraffe. Giraffes win the prize for elegance, beauty and grace. Those big eyes, those long lashes, that neck and super long legs! The tallest mammal on earth, it amazing to see them grazing the acacia treetops in the wild.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, conservation, storytellingKathy KarnOctober 5, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, Elephant, Save Giraffes Now, GiraffesComment

A Heroic Rescue

Unfortunately, it has barely rained in northern and southern Kenya since 2020. The drought is devastating for wildlife and pastoralists alike. Animals are dying from lack of food and water. I was shocked when I visited Samburu country in the north and Amboseli in the south last June.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnSeptember 28, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, ElephantComment

Dream Analysis and Photography

Do you have a favourite photo? Take a minute to think about an image you treasure. What do you notice? How do you feel as you look at the picture? Stay with it for a moment. Resist the urge to scroll on. I suspect there is a story that goes with your choice.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnSeptember 14, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, book, Book Launch, The Wisdom of Elephants, dreams, Elephant Comments

Elephants Heal With a Little Help From Their Friends

Elephants, like us, need community and friends to heal from trauma and loss. There’s proof. This week National Geographic published a study about the power of friendship and survival in orphaned elephants. Look at these orphaned baby elephants at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Kenya – does it look like they are having a good time?

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnJuly 20, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, book, Elephant, Orphans, Reteti Elephant Orphanage, loveComment

When Thorns and Twigs are on the Menu – a Lesson in Elephant Ingenuity

Watching Craig and his four young bodyguards browse on thorny acacia bushes was a fascinating lesson in elephant nutrition and etiquette.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnJuly 13, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, book, Elephant, Amboseli, Big Tusker, Craig Comments

Karibu – Welcome Home

I spotted dozens of dust devils dancing across the flat Amboseli plain as our 12-seater plane banked and turned to prepare for landing. Amboseli has been alive in my imagination since I left in January 2020. The elephants that call this region home transformed my life focus 2.5 years ago.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnJuly 6, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, book, Elephant, Amboseli Comments

Published!

I am over the moon. My first order of books arrived this weekend! Two and a half years ago I had an extraordinary encounter with the elephants of Amboseli. I returned home changed, committed to use my images and story to speak up for elephants and wildlife conservation. The Wisdom of Elephants is the result of this intention.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMay 25, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, book, The Wisdom of Elephants Comments

GPS aka Green Penis Syndrome

Sex on the savanna is a fascinating subject. On Day 2 of my safari in Amboseli, Pilipili leaned over the front seat and pointed to a large bull elephant heading our way. “Can you smell him?” he whispered.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMay 18, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, musthComment

Exciting News from the Publishing Front

I am filled with gratitude for the comments from advance readers and pre-order purchasers of The Wisdom of Elephants. People are affirming what I believe; we care about elephants, we care about conservation, we care about books that give back for good.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMay 11, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, book, The Wisdom of ElephantsComment

Celebrating Mother’s Day

Celebrate Mother’s Day this year with a gift of The Wisdom of Elephants ! Elephants are devoted mothers – family is everything to them.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMay 4, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, book, Big Tusker, mothers, TolstoyComment

Daffodils and Elephants

Spring is here in Southern Ontario. The early daffodils are appearing like bright yellow spotlights highlighting the coming season. Daffodils are like a hallelujah flower chorus shouting Yes! Life! I plant a couple of hundred daffodil bulbs every fall. It’s a ritual I’ve carried out for close to 40 years.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnApril 27, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, book, flowers, daffodils, spring Comments

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! I’d love to hear how you celebrate. When we lived in the country, we planted a tree each year to mark Earth Day. Our earth friendly actions impact nature, whether it’s planting insect and bird friendly perennials in the garden or making conscious choices at the grocery store, collectively our actions make a difference.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnApril 22, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, book, earth dayComment

Hatsy

Last week I got some exciting news. I learned the name of the adult female elephant on the book cover is Hatsy! Dr. Winnie Kiiru, who wrote the Foreword to The Wisdom of Elephants, asked researcher Dr. Cynthia Moss if she could identify the lead elephant on the cover.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnApril 13, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, bookComment

Proofs!

It’s decision time in my book project. Last week I uploaded 20 test pages to the printer in Calgary AB. I was thrilled to open the front door a couple of days later and find a package on my doorstep. This project is no longer living on my computer – it has entered the next dimension of publishing reality.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnApril 6, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, book Comments

RIP Big Tusker Ulysses

The world has lost another Big Tusker. These animals represent a group of African elephants with huge tusks unique to the Amboseli and Tsavo regions of southern Kenya.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMarch 30, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Elephant, Kenya, elephant, Big Tusker, Amboseli, Cynthia MossComment

Generosity

This is a dark time in world history. My heart breaks to read about the senseless murder of innocent people and mass destruction. Here’s the good news, as humans we are more inclined to help and be compassionate than to kill and be cruel.

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMarch 23, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, kindness, generosity, Elephant, KenyaComment

Book News – The Wisdom of Elephants

My book, The Wisdom of Elephants is back from the book designer and the pdf draft is in the hands of beta readers in Kenya. I never imagined I would publish a book. It is happening, it’s coming together!

Heartfelt Endeavours, Wildlife, AfricaKathy KarnMarch 16, 2022Sheldrick Wildlife TrustKathy Karn, Photography, Kenya, book, The Wisdom of Elephants, ElephantComment

Stories by Kathy

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