Shooting Fashion with wild animals is an adventure, but it isn't as easy as it sounds. This shooting was with abandoned, sick or revalidating lions at the game reserve Botlierskop in South Africa. They are white lions and very rare, only a couple of hundred are remaining. We photographed for the brand iDress. For a magazine, we had this foto shooting in South Africa. It was an essential steppingstone of being a Creative Director. The location was close to the Garden Route. It was in the South African winter, which means warm midday temperatures and close to freezing temperatures in the morning and the night.
The briefing was "Happiness", "Pristine nature", "Confidence in oneself and the own way." It should express the fashion aspect of the colours of nature. A little bit of a Henri Rousseau was the inspiration (Henri Rousseau, naive painter, 19th Century).
The team made the incredible effort to be at the location before the daybreak. The Big 5 can be best seen in the morning dawn. Later, they are hiding, and the animals are not anymore in the picture.
We decided to work with a model who we discovered at the local groceries market and who was under contract at ACE models SouthAfrica.
It was a great experience to shoot the model with wild animals. As a South African citizen, the model was luckily used to be surrounded by nature and wilderness. She could cope with the challenges of the shooting. Her youth was an advantage as she trusted her instinct with the animals and was not afraid to touch them.
We took considerable risks with the shoot, as the animals do what they want and can't be controlled.
The fluttering clothing caught the attention of the lions. Their playfulness was triggered by the movements of the silk. That was dangerous! This is why we had to finish the capture in a short time.
The foto shooting has given me a deeper understanding of wildlife photography.
This is a unique memory, and South Africa will stay in my heart forever.
Fast Facts:
Location: Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, Gonnakraal Road, Little Brak River, South Africa
Model: ACE Models
Photography: Antje Paul-Kessel on Canon 1 DS Mark III
Makeup Artist: Donique Leonard, Instagram: Doniqueleonard
Fashion: iDress
Comments