STORY

This very young elephant calf had wandered away from its mother, testing the boundaries of its world. For a fleeting moment, it mustered all the courage it could and attempted a charge - ears flared, trunk extended - ready to face the unknown. But hesitation crept in. Realising it may have taken on more than it could handle, the calf quickly turned and scurried back to the safety of its mother. John Wiseman captured this playful yet symbolic moment, highlighting the delicate balance between curiosity and caution in the wild. The deep shadows and textured tones of this black-and-white image bring out the calf’s youthful innocence and the ruggedness of its surroundings. This photograph tells a story of growth, bravery, and the ever-present lessons that shape the life of a young elephant in the wilderness.