Federico Veronesi grew up in Milan surrounded by nature books and took his first safari to Kenya at age six, crying when he had to leave. For the past two decades, he has lived in East Africa, guiding photographers on the Maasai Mara National Reserve and across the continent. In particular elephants, dates back to when I was three or four years old, growing up in Milan in a house full of old nature books, m y love of African animals. My parents took me on my first safari in Kenya – I cried on the plane home, feeling I was being torn away from the savanna I’d dreamed of, somewhere I really loved, when I was six. That’s where I’ve lived, guiding photographers on the Maasai Mara National Reserve and elsewhere in Africa, but for the past 20 years. Especially big cats, but elephants are still my favourite subject, i’ve spent time photographing other animals. Born: Milan, Italy, 1975. And the three books I published Top tip: Explore ways to convey emotions to the viewer through your photographs, carefully choosing light, atmosphere, shooting angl, moved to Kenya in 2002 High point: Probably this award. When they’re full of testosterone, will do crazy things to demonstrate their power and intimidate their opponents – I’d seen one lift a log before, and thought perhaps that’s what was being dragged, sometimes bull elephants. But this one leaves the interpretation open and adds a layer of mystery, i have other photographs that make the reading of the scene more straightforward.
While elephants are found in diverse habitats from Kenyan savannas to the arid deserts of Namibia, they remain his favorite subject due to their commanding presence. Last September, Veronesi guided a group along a dry riverbed in Namibia where elephants travel toward the Atlantic Ocean. Dominating the landscape and making it come alive, they have this extraordinary presence. And they can also live in extremely arid areas, such as the deserts of Namibia, where this photograph was taken, they are extremely adaptable – in Kenya they’re associated with the savanna and acacia woodland. They retain some vegetation and act as a lifeline for the elephants, who follow them from the hills in the west towards the Atlantic Ocean, even though there is no water in these rivers. It was quite easy to follow their tracks until we found them again the next day, because it’s a sandy river.
Spotting an unusual dragging track the following day, the group located a herd and found an adult female carrying a baby. The calf was actually dead, with its leg wedged between the adult’s tusk and trunk, creating a mysterious and open-to-interpretation composition as another elephant approached.
The herd was followed for several hours as the female carried the infant continuously, setting it down only to feed before resuming her journey into rocky hills where vehicles could not follow.
Researchers later noted that 17 out of 19 calves born in that specific area over the prior four years failed to survive. Furthermore, experts identified the female not as the birth mother, but as an individual who suffered her own miscarriage two years earlier and had since been observed collecting other mothers’ stillborn young. But researchers aren’t yet clear why this is happening, there’s clearly a problem.
Veronesi prefers black-and-white photography for elephants to emphasize skin texture and reveal emotion directly without distractions. The resulting image highlights the deep psychological complexity and grief shared by wildlife.
This powerful photograph earned the adult grand title winner prize at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The exhibition is currently hosted at the Natural History Museum in London through July 11, 2027.
