STORY

This image was taken during a blistering afternoon near a shrinking waterhole in the heart of southern Africa. One hyena dropped low to drink, eyes wary, neck stretched taut, thirst meeting caution. Behind it, the second stood tall and unmoving, alert to every rustle. I was lying flat in a hide just metres away, the heat shimmering around us. What struck me was the contrast, one entirely vulnerable, the other watchful and ready. This pair moved like one organism, each trusting the other with its safety. Hyenas are often misunderstood, seen only as scavengers, but they’re deeply social, intelligent, and in moments like this, quietly powerful. I waited for the light to shift, just enough to catch the ripple in the water and the dust flecks on their coats. The frame came together in that hush with a perfect tension between survival and trust.