“Thank you. I bow in gratitude for the gift of you that you have shared. The Wednesday morning emails became balm for my anxious soul. You continue to inspire me.”
I’m looking forward to meeting up with my Maasai and Samburu friends next month. Going on game drives with each of them is a special opportunity to experience their world through their eyes. Their Indigenous knowledge and unique perspective provide rich territory for learning and heartfelt cross-cultural conversations.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreSex 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.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreCelebrate Mother’s Day this year with a gift of The Wisdom of Elephants ! Elephants are devoted mothers – family is everything to them.
Read MoreSpring 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.
Read MoreHappy 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.
Read MoreLast 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.
Read MoreIt’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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThis 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.
Read MoreMy 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!
Read MoreI am sad to report that beautiful Fig, my favourite leopard was killed by two male lions March 5th. Leopards and lions do not get along. I don’t know the details of what happened, but if she was ambushed by two mature lions, Fig would have little chance of surviving.
Read MoreYou know how to spot a leopard? asked Kupai, as we bumped down the track in the Toyota Land Cruiser. “Look for a tail hanging in a tree!” I replied triumphantly, feeling the flush of pleasure of showing the teacher she’d learned something about finding leopards.
Read More“Wildcat!” Kupai and I exclaimed in unison. We’d only rolled a few yards down the road from the lodge on our first game drive when we spotted the resident warthog, aka Pumba, snuffling at something on the road. I scrambled for my camera to capture the small grey cat strolling ahead of the curious warthog.
Read MoreDo you think animals can feel love? I sure do! With Valentine’s Day this week, let’s talk about love. One of my goals in photography is to make images that touch people’s hearts. Watching African wildlife’s interactions is a reminder that these animals are sentient beings who care about each other.
Read MoreThis week, I’m busy preparing an online presentation for an Ontario Camera Club about Visual Story Telling. So, in the spirit of sharing with more than one audience, here are some of my pointers for photographers and storytellers.
Read MoreThis week I’m turning my story telling over to David Kupai Senchura, my Maasai guide extraordinaire on the Mara Game Reserve. We set our goal one morning to visit the Musiara Marsh Pride of lions.
Read MoreIf you come across a herd of Cape Buffalo on a game drive, you will usually see red or yellow-billed oxpeckers perched their bodies. The birds provide a valuable service - they eat insects and ticks. The symbiotic relationship between the oxpecker and the hooved host is known as mutualism.
Read MoreWelcome to Sarara Camp, there’s a giraffe in the bathroom! Robert Lemayian, my Samburu guide and I laughed out loud when we encountered a reticulated giraffe munching the shrubs beside the outdoor bathroom as he gave me a tour of my accommodations.
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