A Visitation

A creature becomes ordinary only when I stop paying attention. Seen fully, nothing is ever ordinary. From The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck

“Oh! Look!” Our guide, Pilipili, braked abruptly as we simultaneously raised our cameras trying to follow the tawny animal that darted out from the culvert our land cruiser had lumbered over. “Be prepared” is a worthy mantra for wildlife photographers. I was not ready. We were heading back to the lodge for lunch, my camera in my lap, my mind unfocused on the empty landscape shimmering in the midday heat.

©kathykarn

I frantically tried to track the animal with my lens as it made a beeline for the safety of tall grass several meters away. Then it paused and looked back at us, the offending intruders. We had a millisecond eye to eye encounter before it turned and retreated for cover.

©kathykarn

“That’s an African wolf”, said Pilipili. I’d never heard of an African wolf. It looked like a jackal to me without the familiar black back coloration. “They used to be known as a golden jackal, but recent research (genome sequencing) established that the African wolf is distinct from the golden jackal.”

“Amazing! A new species for me,” I exclaimed, impressed once again by Pilipili’s endless knowledge and expertise.

©kathykarn

The small canid paused and looked back again seemingly as curious about us as we were of it. My fingers fumbled trying to focus and take advantage of this second chance. The whole event took less than a minute.

African Wolf ©kathykarn

Photography combines four elements; art, tech, moment and story. I goofed on the art and the tech, was not ready for the moment, and didn’t have a gripping wildlife of story, however, I was satisfied. I received a gift, a visitation that meant more to me than the perfection of a shot. Although hot, sweaty and dusty, I felt lighter, filled with the delight of a new discovery and the blessing that comes with wild encounters in nature.

©kathykarn

The little wolf trotted away, disappearing into the dried vegetation of the parched Amboseli landscape. We carried on towards camp and lunch. I can still access my delight when I view these images. When I look at those golden eyes, I see not only beauty but an invitation, be prepared, you never know who will show up and gift you with its presence.

If you’re curious you can learn more about the African wolf here.

And here’s an image for comparison of the non-relative doppelganger, the black backed jackal.

African Black Backed Jackal ©kathykarn