/ 2025 / Nature / Wildlife

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Eric D'Dio, United States

An elephant family marches across a dry lake in pursuit of food & water. Dust devils spiral & sweep across the terrain adding drama to the dreary landscape, as a scorching sun beats down on heavily textured grey bodies adding to the gloominess with darkness & shadows, as the camera captures the majesty of the herd flowing past. The matriarch approaches then stops meters from where I lay vulnerable on the ground, she is determining if I pose a threat, it's hot, dusty & they are in a hurry. Kicking up dust with a heavily padded foot, lets us know she's aware, emits a deep rumble & they move on.