A Walk in the Riverbed

Summary

Anne Bonfert shares a photo essay of a walk in an African riverbed, capturing the essence of nature's resilience through black and white photography.

Abstract

In the sweltering heat of Africa's summer, Anne Bonfert embarks on a late afternoon walk through a riverbed, documenting the stark beauty of the landscape as it transitions from the dry season to the onset of new life. Despite the harsh conditions, she finds inspiration in the resilience of nature, photographing the last remaining puddles with frogs, the emergence of green grass and flowers, and the diverse wildlife such as butterflies and birds. Bonfert's work emphasizes the power of monochrome imagery to convey strength and endurance, drawing a parallel between the survival of the fittest in nature and the human spirit's capacity to persevere. The essay culminates with a quote on endurance and a call to action for readers to join her email list and explore more of her photographic essays.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep appreciation for the African landscape, particularly its ability to flourish despite harsh conditions.
Bonfert's preference for black and white photography is evident, as she believes it captures the essence of her subjects without the need for color.
The essay conveys a sense of urgency to document the fleeting moments of nature, such as the drying up of river puddles and the temporary lifespan of the frogs within them.
The author sees nature as a teacher, emphasizing themes of perseverance, endurance, and the importance of giving one's best to thrive.
The inclusion of a quote by William Barclay suggests the author's belief in the transformative power of endurance, turning hardship into glory.

Black and white photography

Due to the heat, there is not much you can do most of the day. We usually try to spend the midday heat driving. Getting from one place to another. But the days are long. In Africa’s summer.

Only after 5 pm, we decide to go for a walk. Which was still too early. The sun was beating down on us and I felt like a steak getting crispy on the fire. Not necessarily the way you like it.

But since we started already, we just keep going. Finding some leftover puddles. From when the river was flowing. A few frogs are left in there. But their lifetime is counted. A few more days are left before the last water will be dried up.

Now it is time to look for nature’s signs. The small flowers everywhere. Green grass appearing. And other plants pushing through the soil. The perfect conditions for a walk with my camera in the hand.

Just watch out for the thorns. Not only the Camelthorn tree has many of them which will hurt you through the shoe. Some small plants grow lots of spikes too.

While following the flow of the stream, when it was flowing, I spot lots of butterflies. They are loving the colorful landscape. Birds are singing in the trees and now and then you can hear some frogs croaking.

While I was trying to capture the powerful colors of nature on this walk I also realized that those objects look interesting if I take the colors away. Seeds growing on a blade of grass or a plant breaking through the soil don’t need to be in color to send out a strong message.

The message of never giving up. And always giving your best. Because only the strongest will survive. Only those with the biggest endurance will thrive. So learn from nature and give all you have to offer. To receive the best result possible.

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” — William Barclay

A Walk in the Riverbed

Black and white photography

Removing the Colors of the Desert

Black and white photography: life in the desert

Broken Soil

The broken soil of Africa

The Sky is on Fire

A photographic documentary of the setting sun