The Delaney Journal
Black & White Wildlife Photography from the Heart of Africa
A Rare Encounter: Celebrating the Fever Tree Leopard’s Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist
Award-winning photographer Peter Delaney shares the story behind his Sony World Photography Awards shortlisted image, "Fever Tree Leopard," and the magical moment it was captured in Lake Nakuru.
I’m thrilled to share that my image, “Fever Tree Leopard,” has been shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025! With over 419,000 images submitted globally, this recognition is a dream come true. This image represents a fleeting moment of connection with the wild that I’ll carry with me forever.
To celebrate, I’m offering "Fever Tree Leopard" as an exclusive limited edition fine art print, with only 11 copies available worldwide.
“I’m thrilled to share that my Sony Awards shortlist has been featured on RTÉ, Ireland’s national TV station!
Read the full article here
The Prelude: A Lion's Piercing Gaze
Before the leopard, there was the lion. As the sunset faded over Lake Nakuru, a pride rested near a dirt road. A young male rose and locked eyes with my lens—a moment of raw power and connection captured in my image, "The Stare." It was a powerful prelude, but the fever tree forest held a greater surprise.
From Still Image to Living Moment: Watch the tension build as the young lion rises, his intense gaze foreshadowing the magic to come.
The Setting: A Magical Afternoon in the Fever Tree Forest
Lake Nakuru’s Fever Tree Forest is a place of otherworldly beauty. I was on safari with a client, and my goal was to help her feel Africa, not just photograph it. We turned off the engine, listened to the birdsong, and soaked in the tranquillity. We even paused for a coffee break, simply to "be" in the heart of the forest. It was a magical, sensory experience.
“From the Intensity of ‘The Stare’ to the Grace of the Fever Tree Leopard—Experience the Untamed Beauty of Lake Nakuru. Little did I know, the fever tree forest held an even greater surprise in store.”
The Encounter: A Leopard Revealed
As we finished our refreshments, our guide spotted her: a young female leopard, resting on a distant branch. We held our breath. She moved, disappeared into the vegetation, and we repositioned, hoping to predict her path. Our patience was rewarded when she reappeared, climbing onto the massive bough of a towering fever tree. The scene was perfect.
As I moved quietly through the forest, my guide signaled me to stop. There, high on the bough of a towering fever tree, was a female leopard. Her sleek coat glistened in the dappled light filtering through the canopy. She was the epitome of grace—resting, then rising, her movements fluid and unhurried. In that moment, I knew I was witnessing something extraordinary.
The Shot: Capturing a Fleeting Moment
For a while, she rested. Then, as if attuned to my hopes, she stood up. She turned, walked down the trunk, and in a perfect, fleeting moment, she paused, flicked her tail, and glanced back. I pressed the shutter. I had captured the photograph of a lifetime.
The Art: Why Black and White
When editing this image, I knew it had to be black and white. Stripping away colour heightens the contrasts and textures—the intricate bark of the fever tree, the leopard’s sleek coat, and the delicate interplay of light and shadow. The result is a portrait that feels both intimate and timeless, a true celebration of nature’s quiet majesty.
Own a Piece of This Story: The Limited Edition Print
This image is more than a photograph; it’s a story of patience, magic, and a deep connection with the wild. To celebrate this milestone, I’m offering "Fever Tree Leopard" as a limited edition fine art print.
Each of the 11 available prints is:
Hand-signed and numbered by me.
A museum-quality, archival print.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Includes the full "Story Behind the Print."
Visualise the Art: The Leopard in Your Space
Imagine this stunning portrait as the centrepiece of your home. It transforms a room, adding a touch of sophistication and a constant connection to the wild.
Explore the Full Collection
While the "Fever Tree Leopard" is a special piece, it is part of a larger collection of moments I've been fortunate to capture from the wild.
A Global Honour
Being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards is an incredible honour. This image—born from patience, passion, and serendipity—now stands among the best in the world. It is a reminder that the wild has stories to tell, and I am privileged to be a storyteller through my lens.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me.
Peter Delaney
Elevate Your NYC Space with Safari Wall Art
Is your NYC apartment missing a soul? Learn how bold, black and white safari art can become your statement of resilience, transforming urban grit into untamed elegance.
Your Urban Sanctuary Awaits
Discover the design secret that bridges the gap between Manhattan's skyline and the soul of the African wilderness.
“Urban Giant" | Amboseli Old Tusker
"Command your space with the quiet power of Africa’s giants. This archival print turns living rooms into landscapes."
The Concrete Jungle Meets the Wild
In a city that never sleeps, your home should be your sanctuary. But how do you create a space for calm and power amidst the concrete, noise, and pace?
The answer lies not in more minimalist furniture, but in a bold infusion of the wild. Archival black-and-white safari wall art is the transformative element your NYC apartment is missing. It’s more than decor; it’s a statement of resilience, a portal to adventure, and the key to a truly sophisticated urban oasis.
"The King’s Gaze"
"Rule your concrete kingdom. This lion’s stare is the only crown a NYC apartment needs."
The Power of a Focal Point: Command Your Space with Lion Art
Your living room needs an anchor. A focal point that draws the eye and sets the tone for the entire space. A lion, the true king of the savanna, does exactly that.
A striking lion portrait brings a quiet, unyielding authority to your interior. The monochrome palette ensures it integrates seamlessly with any colour scheme, while the subject’s raw power and direct gaze create a conversation piece that is both elegant and primal. It’s a daily reminder of strength and resilience—qualities every New Yorker understands.
“Rule your concrete kingdom. This lion’s stare is the only crown a NYC apartment needs.”
Tender Moment | Sacred Bond
"In a city that never sleeps, let their quiet intimacy whisper: ‘Here, you belong.’"
The Antidote to Chaos: Find Calm with Elephant Art
NYC is synonymous with chaos. Your home shouldn’t be. Elephant wall art embodies wisdom, memory, and calm. The gentle giants of the savanna bring a profound sense of tranquillity to any room, making them perfect for bedrooms, reading nooks, or your home office.
The textured details of their skin and their soulful, intelligent eyes add depth and a soft, organic element to minimalist spaces, counteracting the hard lines of the city.
“In a city that never sleeps, let their quiet intimacy whisper: ‘Here, you belong.”
Skyward Elegance
"Stretch beyond skyscrapers. A giraffe’s grace meets Manhattan’s skyline in monochrome poetry."
The Illusion of Space: Elevate Perspectives with Giraffe Art
Square footage is a premium, but perception is everything. The towering grace of a giraffe, captured in a vertical portrait, creates a powerful visual trick that draws the eye upward, making low ceilings feel higher and cramped hallways feel grander.
This is biophilic design at its most effective—using nature’s forms to improve our perception of a man-made environment.
“Stretch beyond skyscrapers. A giraffe’s grace meets Manhattan’s skyline in monochrome poetry.”
"Dine Beneath Giants"
"Where loft chic meets wild majesty. This archival Mara landscape turns dinner parties into safari soirees, with a giraffe’s grace presiding over every meal."
Proven Wellness: It's Not Just Decor, It's Design for Wellbeing
This isn't just an aesthetic choice; it's a wellness strategy. Studies in environmental psychology have shown that exposure to nature-inspired art can significantly reduce stress levels.
In your urban environment, where concrete dominates, these prints offer a vital visual escape:
Replace screen glare with a lion's contemplative gaze.
Mask drywall cracks with the intricate textures of elephant skin.
Offset subway grime with the perfect patterns of a zebra's stripes.
This is visual therapy for the city dweller.
From My Lens to Your Living Room: The Peter Delaney Difference
Every print tells a story—not just of the animal, but of the moment it was captured. My work is dedicated to freezing those split seconds of wild soul and raw beauty into timeless, archival artworks.
When you bring a Peter Delaney print into your home, you’re not just buying a photograph; you’re investing in a piece of the wild, a story of resilience, and a legacy of artistic craftsmanship. Each piece is produced to museum-quality standards, ensuring it remains a focal point for generations.
🌍 Free Global Shipping | ⚡ 10-12 Day Delivery | SSL Secure Checkout
Ready to Transform Your Space?
Don't just decorate your apartment—curate your sanctuary.
For the Collector:
Invest in a rare, exclusive Limited Edition Print.
With only 11 prints available per image, you own a piece of art that is both meaningful and valuable.
Fever Tree Leopard | Rare Limited Edition of 11 Prints Only
This fine art black-and-white print, shortlisted for an award, is nearly sold out in its first release. Just 1 of the first 3 prints remains at $800. Future editions will increase in price.
For the Connoisseur:
Explore our Open-Edition Collections Below
Discover timeless, accessible elegance to transform your space today.
Why Human Art Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI
In a world flooded with AI images, my photographs tell real stories — of mud, patience, danger, and light. Art made by a man, not a machine.
Why Human Art Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI
“The Matriarch”
is more than a portrait. It is a quiet reverence for strength, resilience, and the sacred role of guardianship. A striking centrepiece for collectors drawn to minimalist design and the enduring spirit of Africa’s wild giants.
In a world where machines can generate images in seconds, the question every artist is quietly asking is: Does my work still matter?
The answer, without hesitation, is yes.
But only if we lean into what makes us human.
“Camelopard”
is more than a portrait. It’s a meditation—a moment of connection between a creature and the land, and between that land and myself. A timeless echo of solitude, grace, and breath.
Real Art Can’t Be Faked by a Prompt
My photographs are born in silence. In sweat. In stillness. I’ve stood in the African bush for days, covered in dust and sweat, camera in hand, waiting. Listening. Feeling. For the light to fall just right. For an elephant to pause mid-step. For the Breath of the Wild to whisper: now.
That moment can’t be coded. It can’t be rendered. It can’t be hallucinated by an algorithm trained on a billion borrowed images.
And that’s why it matters.
“Stillness in the Wild”
Not just a photograph — a legacy in print. For collectors who value truth, rarity, and soul.
The Value Is in the Story and Provenance
AI will flood the market with flawless, polished, generic content. But perfection is not what touches the human soul.
What collectors will crave — what already holds value — is truth.
Not just a photograph, but a journey:
The mud on my boots
The sting of early morning frost
The roar of a lion, too close for comfort
The long, quiet days without a single shot
That’s what you invest in when you buy my work. Not pixels. Not decoration. But experience, presence, and provenance.
People are buying me — the story, the patience, the lifetime behind the lens — not just the photograph.
Fever Tree Leopard: A Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist
Own a rare, limited edition black-and-white fine art print of a female leopard in the Fever Tree Forest. Only 11 prints available worldwide. Hand-signed and authenticated.
📸 Fever Tree Leopard
Captured in the golden stillness of the fever tree forest of Lake Nakuru, Kenya, this elusive predator draped itself across the limbs just as the light softened. Shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025, this moment is the result of patience, instinct, and presence. Watch the moment unfold — filmed quietly, one breath away from the wild.
Soul. Suffering. Truth. Imperfection.
These are not flaws. They are fingerprints. Human ones.
In a world saturated with synthetic imitation, art created by human hands, with all its rawness, struggle, and grace — becomes the gold standard.
Your walls won’t just hold a beautiful image. They will hold the truth.
Eye to Eye: A Moment of Majesty
This fine art print immortalizes the spirit of the wild, bringing the raw beauty and commanding presence of Africa's untamed wilderness into your home.
🦁 Eye to Eye
A male lion, soaked by Mara rain, sitting in the mist and locked eyes with me — a moment of raw presence and silent power. In this rare behind-the-scenes clip, you’ll see the wild as I saw it: unpredictable, haunting, unforgettable.
The Bottom Line
Yes, AI will change the art world. But that’s not a threat — it’s a call to rise.
Real art — the kind made with intent, sacrifice, and soul — becomes rarer. And in that rarity lies its value.
So I keep showing up. Camera in hand. Eyes open. Heart engaged.
And if you're still drawn to what’s real in this fast-changing world — you’ll find it here, in every print I create.
Let’s not run from the future. Let’s create something timeless within it.
Contemplation | Winner Wildlife Photographer of The Year
A gaze lost in thought. In Chimpanzee Dreaming, a great ape reclines on the forest floor, hands gently clasped behind his head, eyes fixed on the canopy above. He is not just resting—he is dreaming, contemplating the world in quiet wonder.
🐵 Contemplation
While creating this intimate portrait of a chimpanzee deep in thought — later named a winner in Wildlife Photographer of the Year — I recorded myself speaking about the experience. It’s not Nat Geo footage, just my iPhone. But it’s real. And the honesty comes through.
Ready to Own the Real Thing?
If you’d like to bring home art that can’t be faked — art with a pulse and a story — take a look at my latest black-and-white wildlife collections.
Explore Fine Art Prints
Or get in touch — I’d love to talk about the story behind the work that speaks to you.
The Godfather | Grey Ghost Of Etosha| Elephant Wall Art
Discover the majestic Etosha bull elephant, known as "The Godfather," in this captivating wildlife photography blog by Peter Delaney. Explore African elephant behaviour and fine art prints.
The Godfather | Grey Ghost Of Etosha| Elephant Wall Art
Wildlife Photography in Etosha National Park
Capturing the Bull Elephant's Majesty
While he stands knee-deep in the waterhole, his eyes are closed as he dozes off. Now and again, this giant will swish his tail or fill his trunk to spray his massive frame with the cold grey liquid. He is big - 4 meters tall and over 4 tons in weight, he is the "Godfather" as I affectionately call this giant bull elephant. It is two in the afternoon, and the heat is relentless; over 30 degrees Celsius and no shade.
The Godfather
"From the Heart of Africa: Captivating Wildlife Prints for Your Home"
Purchase fine art prints of the majestic Etosha bull elephant.
Canvas Framed | Acrylic Glass | (Ready To Hang)
Loose Unframed On Hahnemühle Photo Rag
It's been the same routine for weeks now. The Godfather and his two shadow bull elephants arrive early afternoon and commandeer the waterhole. This is the only water for 20 sq km, and the animals have travelled all day to drink this life-saving water. But this "Trinity" will not give way or tolerate any other animal to drink in their presence.
"Journey to Africa: Stunning Wall Art for Your Space"
"Raw Beauty of the Wild: African Wildlife Prints for Your Home"
A multitude of animals, springbok, gemsbok, zebra, ostrich, giraffe, and even lion have waited hours for the elephant's departure so that they may quench their thirst. From a photographer’s point of view, watching this action is like manna from the heavens‚ as there are attempted lion kills, sporadic jostles between herd males vying for dominance and occasional visits from a black rhino that appear like spectres as the sun fades below the horizon.
“Elevate Your Space with African Wildlife Art"
When the bull elephants do eventually leave, my heart skips a beat as I prepare for the shot that has eluded me for so long. In my mind's eye, I have visualised this scene many times. But for this to happen, I need them to walk towards me. But each day I groan inwardly and at another missed opportunity as the Trinity head off to dust bath in the opposite direction.
Today, however, will be different, as that morning, I had seen the three bulls feeding on a camel thorn tree away from their usual feeding place. Soon it will be time for them to depart. I leave, anticipating their route, and wait silently for them to come into view. I have checked and rechecked my equipment and decided upon the camera and lens combination. I now relax and control my breathing as they come into view.
"Witness the Wild: African Wildlife Art to Inspire and Delight"
The next ten minutes are the bliss of forgetfulness as I zone into the task at hand; only one moment stands out.
“He stands still before me in all his magnificence, raising his trunk filled with the red Kalahari dust. In one fluid movement, he sprays his forehead, and for one brief moment, he is covered in the magic of dust and light”
Author Peter Delaney
Elephant Ridge: A Stunning Fine Art Print
"Discover 'Elephant Ridge,' a captivating fine art print showcasing the majestic beauty of elephants in Etosha, Namibia. Captured by award-winning photographer Peter Delaney, this black-and-white masterpiece immortalizes a fleeting moment in nature's splendour."
"Elephant Ridge" is a captivating black-and-white fine art print
that showcases the majestic beauty of a herd of elephants in Etosha, Namibia. This stunning image, one of my favourites, resulted from a week-long quest in one of my most cherished photographic destinations.
The journey to capture this image was filled with anticipation and moments of despair. For days, I scoured the vast landscape in search of this particular herd of over thirty elephants. Just as hope was waning, fortune smiled upon me on the final day of my self-drive photographic safari. I spotted the herd from a distance and quickly made my way to a nearby waterhole on a small plateau. Although I missed them drinking, my spirits lifted as I watched the elephants begin to move in my direction.
Seizing the moment, I positioned my vehicle parallel to the ridge and set up my camera, ensuring every detail was perfect. With the dust and sand creating an ethereal atmosphere, the elephants aligned perfectly along the ridge's spine. I pressed the shutter, immortalizing this fleeting moment in "Elephant Ridge." In an instant, the alignment was gone, but the image captured a timeless scene that will forever resonate with me.
Why Choose "Elephant Ridge"?
This print is more than just a photograph; it's a testament to the patience and perseverance required to capture nature's fleeting moments. "Elephant Ridge" is an embodiment of the wild beauty of Etosha, Namibia, and will serve as a timeless piece of art in your collection. Whether displayed in a gallery or your living room, this print is sure to evoke awe and admiration from all who see it.
Bring the wild elegance of "Elephant Ridge" into your space and let the spirit of the elephants inspire you every day. Order now and own a piece of nature's art, preserved in stunning black-and-white photography.
Premium Print Options for "Elephant Ridge"
Hahnemühle Photo Rag
Description: A luxurious, fine art paper known for its matte finish and exceptional detail.
Features: This option provides a rich, textured feel that adds depth to the black-and-white tones, making the elephants and the dusty ridge come alive.
Gallery Quality Matte Canvas | Floating Frame
Description: A durable, high-quality canvas with a smooth matte finish.
Features: This canvas option gives the print a painterly look, perfect for those who appreciate a more classic presentation. It comes with a floating solid wood frame available in four different finishes (natural, black, white, and dark brown), allowing you to match your decor effortlessly.
Acrylic Glass Print | Slimline Frame
2mm Matt and Gloss Glass Finish:
Description: A sleek and modern presentation that enhances the contrast and detail of the photograph.
Features: The glossy finish intensifies the blacks and whites, creating a striking visual impact, while the 2mm acrylic glass adds depth and protection to the image. The matte option provides a glare-free viewing experience, maintaining the photograph's elegance without reflection.
