Posted: 11 October 2023
Elane Zelcer – My Photographs & Stories from Southern Africa
Profits from sales of the book, less printing costs, together with sales from other items, will be donated to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Australia’s largest child health research institute and one of the top three worldwide for research quality and impact*.
MCRI’s team of more than 1,600 researchers is dedicated to accelerating medical breakthroughs that will give all children the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilled life.
*‘Murdoch Children’s Performance analysis and benchmarking report’ (Clarivate, August 2020).
THE BOOK: PHOTOS & STORIES
In 2022 I visited Southern Africa for the first time, exploring three countries: Namibia, Botswana & Zambia, with a short stop at Victoria Falls.
From the moment I landed in Namibia (photo below of oryx in front of Dune 45), I had the joy of being with and learning from great guides & photographers who taught me about the local environment and its wildlife. This continued in each place that I visited.
The photographs and stories are just some of what I saw, captured and experienced. I hope you enjoy these “tastes”, and maybe they will get you interested, and excited about visiting, or revisiting Africa.
If you have the opportunity, perhaps you’ll go to one or more of these countries, and not just see how glorious and interesting they are, but to also meet the people and see the wildlife in these relatively isolated parts of the world. Maybe it will spark interest in the sciences; perhaps you’ll find an opportunity to work there, learning and studying more about these regions, the people living there, the wildlife and the climate. Or, just reading the book and seeing my photos will be sufficiently rewarding.
As with my first book, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a team of exceptional people who have ensured that we can all be very proud of this new book: Ari Espay – my photography editor; Danielle Hernandez – the designer and artist who has added aspects that are very, very special; and Ken Haley – my book editor, who continues to challenge me in all that I write.
MY CHALLENGE FOR YOU
I know that all of you, my family, friends & colleagues, are very generous – and having successfully completed a crowdfunding campaign in 2021 in which we raised more than $8,000 for MCRI , it’s time to see how much we can raise in 2023 – ideally smashing that number.
In addition to purchasing copies of the book, you have the opportunity to buy note cards and bookmarks that can be gifts for you, your family and friends – Christmas is not far away. You can also buy one of a limited edition (20) of posters of the front page of the book – designed by Danielle.
This book, as with my first, is designed for people from ages 12 to 112. It describes the similarities and differences across Southern Africa, from the deserts and massive sand dunes of Namibia, to the bush in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and from the Magkadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert, to the lush bush of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
Elephants, lions, leopards, African wild dogs as well as giraffes, hippos, crocs and other mammals and reptiles. Birds ranged from small, colourful bee eaters to large eagles, storks and ostriches. Every day was a new and wonderful experience with great, knowledgeable guides, and good friends.
I encourage anyone interested in visiting to go for it! Although I must include a warning: being in Africa is addictive – I’m well into planning my next visit for 2024.
As with my first book and as noted above, proceeds after costs of printing the book together with sales of other items, will go to the MCRI.
