Up Close and Personal with The Gang: A Wild West African Encounter

There’s something captivating about photographing wildlife, those fleeting moments of connection that remind us how alike we are. This shot of vervet monkeys was one such moment. Taken in Bijilo Forest Park, Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa, it captures the curiosity and charisma of these playful creatures. I spent hours getting lost in the Park and took lots of photos of the monkeys that live there. This shot was a firm favourite, aided with the help of some peanuts to entice the monkeys and get them to pause for a spilt second for this image.

Four Monkeys line up for a photo in The Gambia.

Using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II paired with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, I opted for a wide-angle approach to get up close and personal. I lay on my stomach on one of the trials for this low angle perspective, I put out some peanut bait and waited… The settings used were f/7.1, 16mm, 1/125, and ISO 400, which allowed me to balance depth of field and sharpness while keeping the scene vibrant. The tree cover in the forest dulled a lot of the light entering the frame. In hindsight I would have opened the aperture a little more to provide a faster shutter speed. The wide angle brought me right into their world, creating an intimate perspective that places the viewer eye-to-eye with the troop.

The experience gave me an increased respect for nature photographers. It’s no easy feat, patience, timing, and a deep respect for the animals are essential. Staying still, letting the monkeys come closer, and waiting for that perfect moment when their expressions aligned as if posing for the camera was key to capturing this shot. As well as getting lost several times in the large forest, I also almost last my camera bag to another monkey in search for some peanuts.

What makes this image stand out is the sense of personality each monkey brings to the frame. From the cautious glance of the one on the left to the bold confidence of the one extending its hand, it’s a dynamic snapshot of their social world. The lush greenery of Bijilo Forest Park adds a vibrant backdrop, contrasting with their earthy tones.

Photographing wildlife isn’t just about the technicalities, it’s about telling a story. This image, for me, tells a story of connection, curiosity, and the shared experience of existence on this planet. I hear rumours of the forest being used for residential properties, I hope this isn’t the case and the monkeys still have a home.

For more wildlife stories and images, visit my Flickr account. Follow me on Instagram and X for regular updates. Who knows what encounters lie ahead, Mother Africa is calling!

Keywords: #BijiloForestPark #TheGambia #WildlifePhotography #CanonPhotography #WideAngle #VervetMonkeys #WestAfrica #TravelPhotography #NaturalLight #GeraintRowlandPhotography

Street Photography in India

I am a photographer from the United Kingdom who loves to travel.  Last year I spent over six months travelling around India.  I started in Bangalore before making my way down the west coast to the southern tip of India before making my way up the east coast to Calcutta.  After some time in Bangladesh I returned to explore the north of India visiting Varanasi and the state of Rajasthan as well as the Capital of New Delhi.  There weren't many days during the trip that I didn't head out with my camera to document my experiences.  As well as capturing the iconic sights such as the Taj Mahal, and beautiful nature images on the coastline of Kerala and in the immense Thar Desert, some of my favourite photographs from the trip were ones I took on the streets, capturing everyday life in India.  This blog includes some of the many street photographs I took whilst travelling through India.

What is Street Photography?

Street photography is a genre that has become very popular in recent times with the popularity of Instagram, and the ability to take good quality photos on a mobile phone.  There is some debate as to what actually defines street photography and what it should and should not include.  My understanding of street photography is the documentation of people living their everyday lives in a public space.  Street photography nearly always contains people and is taken in a candid, unstaged way, normally without the knowledge or consent of the people captured.  I don't personally believe that street photography has to necessarily be taken in a street or even an urban environment as not everyone in the World lives in a City.  Street photography involves the observation of humanity, and when done well becomes an art form in itself.  A well taken street photo will evoke some kind of emotion in the viewer, over and above that of a standard snapshot.  The resulting image provides a single moment in time that tells a particular story, often in an amusing or ironic way.  Some documentary and street photographers insist on their photos being black & white but I personally feel this to be a shame particularly if the image was taken in a colourful setting as is often the case in India.   Aside from the possible conversion to black and white it is generally agreed that street photographs should not be overly edited and should be presented in a natural and realistic way.  I am a member of a Facebook group called 'Urban Street Photography' which has some fantastic examples of the different styles of street photography taken around the World.  It is a perfect place to look at the work of great street photographers with differing styles for some urban inspiration!  

Examples of my Street Photography taken in India

India is a brilliant place for every type of photography, street photography included.  The Cities and towns are full of colour and are bustling with life throughout the day.  What can seem hectic and overbearing to many people can be a street photographers dream.  As a street photographer you often just have to be patient, and something interesting will eventually happen.  In addition, Indian people are very friendly, who in the majority of cases do not mind having their photo taken.  It is also a safe place to travel around with a camera so long as you take the obvious precautions.  My normal plan when travelling is to meet up with local people, often photographers from Flickr or Instagram to go and take photos with.  This provides me with some valuable local knowledge as well as making the experience more enjoyable resulting in some better travel and street photographs for my portfolio.  Click on the photo below to view a slideshow of ten street photos I captured on my journey around India.

Street Photograph of colourfully dressed women in Bangalore.

A candid street photo taken in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. A cow stares towards the camera while a local man walks past.

An amusing candid street photograph of a Holy Man speaking on a mobile phone in Varanasi, India.

Street photography in Varanasi by Geraint Rowland.

Two cyclists cross each other on a bridge across a river in Madurai, India.

A girl passes a cow on some stairs in this street image taken in Varanasi.

Colourful street image of a fruit seller and his girlfriend, taken in Pushkar in Rajasthan, India.

Street photographs often evoke an emotion such as humour in this image of children on their mobile phones behind a large chicken on the streets of Madurai.

A colourful candid street portrait taken on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India.

The streets full of life (and rubbish) on a Sunday morning in central Bengaluru.

I highly recommend India for a photographic and travel experience, you will not be disappointed, it really is a unique part of the World.  I have written several photographic travel blogs about my time in India including: Travel photography in Varanasi, Sunset silhouette photography in Fort Kochi, and one on the birds at Marina beach at sunrise in Chennai.  I have always enjoyed taking street photographs on my travels, here is a blog I wrote combining two of my interests: street photography and street art.  More of my street photographs from India and around can be found on my website, my Instagram, my Facebook and my Flickr account.  I have a large selection of my travel photographs from India available to licence via Getty Images.  If you are interested in purchasing a print direct, writing a guest blog or collaborating in another way please send an email to: geraintrowlandphotography@gmail.com.

Machu Picchu por Geraint Rowland Photography

Hace algunos años atrás, tuve la suerte de pasar una semana en Machu Picchu tomando fotografías para el MINCETUR, el departamento de turismo del Gobierno Peruano. Machu Picchu es una ciudadela Inca del siglo XV localizada en la región del Cusco, en Perú, bajo el valle sagrado. En 1983 fue declarada como Patrimonio Mundial por la UNESCO, y en el 2007, Machu Picchu fue elegida como una de las Siete Nuevas Maravillas del Mundo.

Por siete días tuve como base el Pueblo de Machu Picchu, que se encuentra debajo de las ruinas de Machu Picchu, y es también conocido como Aguas Calientes. Desde allí pude visitar varias montañas ubicadas alrededor de la ciudadela Inca, tales como el Huayna Picchu, la montaña Machu Picchu y Putukusi (que también se puede escribir como Putucusi). Además, pude hacer los últimos dos días del Camino Inca, el cual termina en Machu Picchu: “la misteriosa Ciudad Perdida de los Incas”. Dale click al slideshow debajo para que puedas ver algunas fotos que tomé durante mi estadía en Machu Picchu.

Un turista mira hacia abajo en dirección a Machu Picchu.

Una amigable llama te da la bienvenida a las ancestrales ruinas de Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu por Geraint Rowland Photography.

Primeras horas de la mañana en el Camino Inca a Machu Picchu.

Caminando en el Perú.

Naturaleza y Montañas que rodean Machu Picchu.

Llama pastando, Machu Picchu.

Tuve una semana maravillosa en Machu Picchu, y si es que cuentan tiempo recomendaría pasar algunos días allí para explorar el área a profundidad. Con más tiempo, puedes visitar diversos picos y tener una mayor oportunidad de experimentar el buen clima. El día que subí al Huaya Picchu tuve poca visibilidad casi todo el día. Personalmente, considero que las mejores vistas de Machu Picchu fueron las que tuve desde la misma montaña Machu Picchu. El pico más emocionante y menos congestionado de todos fue el Putukusi, en donde sólo te cruzas con un puñado de personas en toda la caminata. Sin embargo, éste pico no es apto para cardiacos, ya que tiene varias escaleras empinadas al comienzo del trayecto (mira las imágenes abajo). Si solo tienes tiempo para visitar Machu Picchu, trata de tomar uno de los primeros buses que suben a las ruinas y así alcanzar a ver la salida del sol.

Puedes encontrar más de mis fotografías de Machu Picchu en mi página web, Instagram, página de Facebook y en mi cuenta de Flickr. Si estás interesado en adquirir alguna impresión, usar alguna imagen online o te gustaría más información, por favor envíame un correo electrónico a geraintrowlandphotography@gmail.com.