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
Lions Of The Mara | Eye to eye | Fine Art Print
Step into the wild with hauntingly beautiful black-and-white fine art lion prints capturing the soul-stirring gaze of one of the Serengetis— most formidable lion coalition. Set against the rain-soaked grasslands of the Mara North Conservancy, this artwork embodies power, resilience, and the quiet majesty of Africa’s untamed heart.
A coalition of four majestic male lions whose dominion spans the vast terrains of Kenya and Tanzania, traversing the iconic Masai Mara and Serengeti.
Serengeti Boy | Eye To Eye
"Eye to eye with Africa’s untamed soul."
In this striking black-and-white print, one member of this legendary brotherhood is captured moments after being stirred by the gentle hum of our vehicle. Half-sitting in the rain-soaked savanna grass, his piercing stare locks onto the lens, sending shivers down the spine. The long, wet grass clings to his powerful frame and the softened backdrop of mist and rain in the Mara North Conservancy adds an ethereal quality to this breathtaking encounter.
Bring Africa into Your Home
- Available as loose prints, canvas prints, and acrylic prints.
- Free shipping included!
Eye to Eye | Acrylic Glass | Floating Solid Wood Frame | Ready To Hang
Raw Beauty of the Wild: African Wildlife Prints for Your Home
This scene encapsulates the lion’s raw power and unyielding presence, a stark reminder of the wild’s untamed beauty. The misty ambience and the lion's commanding gaze create an unforgettable portrait of primal grace and authority.
Eye To Eye | 3 Panel Acrylic Glass | Ready To Hang
From the Heart of Africa: Captivating Wildlife Prints for Your Home
This fine art print immortalises the spirit of these remarkable creatures, offering a compelling window into the untamed wilderness and an invitation to behold the untold stories of the Serengeti Boys.
Eye to Eye | Canvas Floating Frame Solid Maple White Wood | Ready To Hang
Wild Elegance: Transform Your Home with Powerful Wildlife Prints
A Perfect Companion Piece
Pair "Eye to Eye" or Scarred and Unbowed to showcase the duality of the lion’s personality—calm yet commanding, serene yet fierce.
Serengeti Boys: Scarred and Unbowed
Scarred and Unbowed
A warrior forged in the storm—eternal, unbroken."- "Bring Home the Spirit of the Wild"
Battered by life’s storms yet unyielding, one lion stands tall amidst the rain-soaked plains of the Mara North Conservancy. His scarred body tells stories of countless battles, resilience, and survival. Mist clings to the horizon, softening the landscape into a scene of timeless beauty and raw power. This evocative print immortalises the proud, unbroken spirit of the wild—commanding, resilient, and eternal.
The Grey Ghosts of Etosha: Sculpted by Dust, Etched by Time
In Etosha’s blinding salt pans, Africa’s tallest elephants roam like ghosts. Follow Peter Delaney’s intimate encounter with these silent giants of dust and time.
There is a place where giants walk among ghosts—Etosha, a land of shimmering mirages, salt-laden winds, and time-weathered elephants. These are not just any elephants. They are the tallest in Africa, sculpted by scarcity, survival, and the whispers of the past. I had the privilege of walking in their footsteps, witnessing the resilience of one old bull who carried the weight of the desert upon his back.
Grey Ghosts Of Etosha Trek Across the vast expanse of Etosha Pan in seach of food and water
Tracking the Giants
The day had begun in the golden hush of dawn, when the desert light paints the world in hues of fire and shadow. Seven bulls had crossed my path, moving with a slow, deliberate grace that defied their immense size. I followed, keeping my distance, drawn by the quiet rhythm of their journey. In Etosha, water is the pulse of life, and these seasoned travelers knew where to find it.
Hour by hour, they led me deeper into the vast, open expanse until we reached the edge of the Etosha Pan—a blinding white void that stretched beyond the horizon. Here, where the earth cracks like old parchment and the sky swallows sound, ancient springs still bubbled beneath the surface. The bulls knew this well. Without hesitation, they approached, extending their trunks to drink from the life-giving source hidden beneath the salt.
March of The Grey Ghosts | Bull Elephants
"When the wild speaks in black and white... are you listening?"
The Giant’s March by
Then, they appeared from the haze of heat and dust—seven bull elephants in single file, ghostlike in their silence. Towering, timeworn giants, each one carved by decades of desert life. Their hides were landscapes of cracked earth and old battles, tusks mismatched and weathered by use. They moved with a quiet, deliberate grace, conserving every ounce of energy under the unrelenting sun. No trumpeting, no chaos—just the steady, rhythmic march of survivors across the great salt pan. As they drew near, the air seemed to hold its breath. I sat motionless, heart pounding, witnessing a moment so rare and profound that it felt like the desert had offered me a gift.
Grey Ghost | Old Bull Elephant
"Not just a photograph. A moment. A masterpiece. A memory of the wild—etched in black & white."
The Ritual of Dust and Time
After quenching their thirst, the bulls engaged in a ritual as old as their lineage. With practiced precision, they gathered the thick, alkaline mud and coated themselves, transforming into living statues of dust and stone. The Etosha Pan’s white clay served as both armor and identity, shielding them from the relentless sun and parasites. As it dried, it gave them their ghostly hue—a spectral presence in an already dreamlike world.
This old bull stood apart, his gaze lingering upon the horizon. Perhaps he had seen too many seasons, lost too many kin to time and hardship. Or perhaps he was merely content, knowing he had mastered this unforgiving land. As he moved past me, his vast frame eclipsed the dying sun, and for a fleeting moment, he was neither beast nor legend but something more—an echo of Africa’s untamed soul.
Grey Ghost | Hole In Ear | Bull Elephant
"An elephant never forgets. Neither will you."
Why Etosha’s Elephants Matter
Etosha’s elephants are not just survivors; they are sculptors of the land, shaping waterholes with their tusks, dispersing seeds that grow into sheltering trees, and carrying the wisdom of generations. But they are also vulnerable. Their tusks, often brittle from mineral deficiencies, remind us that even giants have weaknesses. Their migration routes, once endless, are now hemmed in by human expansion.
As photographers and storytellers, we must do more than capture their beauty—we must honor their story. Etosha’s elephants are more than just subjects for a lens; they are testaments to endurance, resilience, and the fragile balance between survival and loss.
And so, I leave you with this: If you ever find yourself on the edge of the Etosha Pan, where the land meets the sky and time stands still, watch closely. You may glimpse the Grey Ghosts—moving, vanishing, enduring. Just as they always have.
Grey Ghost | Young Bull Elephant
“For those who see beauty in simplicity, and strength in stillness.”
To witness Etosha’s giants through my lens, browse my collection of black-and-white fine art prints. Each piece tells a story of Africa’s untamed wilderness, capturing moments that stand outside of time.