This photograph was taken in July 2015 in Etosha National Park, Namibia, which is among my favourites in Africa. The arid atmosphere, and the magical lights make it a truly unique park!
I love graphic design and uncluttered images. High-key is one of the techniques that allows me to exacerbate this. I was near the pan (which is dry at this time of year) and a group of giraffes were there, in the heat, in the very harsh light of a late morning. An hour when it's often said that you shouldn't take photos ;-) But that's precisely what I found so interesting about this very luminous, very mineral, almost lunar atmosphere! And the giraffes spoiled me, as they have moved in relation to each other to create a dynamic, graphic and balanced composition. A harmonious quartet.
The over-exposure was of course done as when I was shooting, prioritising the right exposure for the main subjects. Photographic development allowed me to optimise it by zone. The giraffes were exposed as I wanted them, the very sober, while short grasses and pebbles was overexposed just as I wanted it, but the sky behind them was light grey, and I took it into pure white. The square framing had been anticipated from the start 1/ because I love the square format 2/ because I thought this quartet lent itself particularly well to it.
