Author: johannekekroesbergen

I am an anthropologist of religion and photographer, currently living in Pretoria, South Africa. I wrote my PhD-thesis on narratives about Satanism in Zambia. Currently I am preparing a new research project that uses photography as an ethnographic method. In my free time, I love hiking, safaris and enjoying nature through photography.

Rock paintings?

I love to experiment with the editing of my photographs. What I like about this one is that it is so reminiscent of age-old rock paintings found in the region. Isn’t it wonderful that one can create such a thing?

Or do you like this version better:

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Pictures taken in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa

Honor the small

We have a saying in the Netherlands, “Wie’t kleine niet eert, is’t grote niet weert”. It means something like ‘if you don’t honor the small, you’re  not worthy of the great’. It is what I say to myself if I pick up a penny that someone dropped.

But I think it’s also true for nature and photography. You don’t always have to go for the big and the dramatic – the elephants, lions, and the like. If you just step outside and pay attention to the smallest details, you may find even greater beauty!

Elephant on the road

This morning, according to the news, a herd of eight elephants on the loose near Pretoria are being led back into the game reserve they escaped from. I can’t imagine the sight of a herd of elephants trudging to the suburbs…

We met this bull on a recent visit to Pilanesberg National Park. In the bushes on either side of the road there the herd with several baby elephants was foraging. The aggressive bull would not let any car come close, let alone pass. We didn’t even attempt to get nearer. Elephants are said to be ‘gentle giants’, but to me they are the most scary animals one can encounter on a safari!

Goodmorning sunshine

Is the morning cold and grey where you are? Do you have a bad-hair-day? Are you struggling to find the inspiration to start the new week? I know how you feel.

My antidote today is this beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller. There is my color and warmth – and who cares about hair if you’ve got colors like that! So let’s get this week started…

Rise and shine

This morning we waited for the sun to rise on a hill overlooking Pretoria. It didn’t happen. It’s still cold and grey outside. Luckily, this is a tradition, and three years ago we were here too, so I give you an old photo. Meanwhile we trust that the rising of the sun – even though it happened behind the clouds – marks a new day and new life. Happy Easter!

 

See the world

This is our world. It is cruel. It is harsh. It is unfair. It hurts, while others are smiling with their bellies full. And it’s not just this cheetah. Humans are even worse. The cheetah does what he must do. Humans have a choice.

What do we do with that choice? Still there is inequality. There is pain inflicted on the innocent. And so little mercy for those who are seeking a better place in life. Because we benefit from the way things are. Because we don’t know where to start to change them.

And still. There is beauty in this world. There is beauty in this bloody cheetah. It gives me hope. There must be something to redeem the world. (Or Someone to redeem us…)