Moonlit Glow over the Rub al Khali – Oman
Under the gentle light of the moon, the Rub al Khali, the vast sand desert of southeastern Arabia, reveals its nocturnal majesty. The silvered dunes form silent undulations, while the star-studded sky stretches endlessly above this raw and timeless landscape. A profound sense of calm and solitude envelops this legendary desert, inviting contemplation and reverie at the heart of one of the world’s largest sand deserts.
Giant Cacti Beneath the Stars of Salar de Uyuni – Trichocereus pasacana – Bolivia
Standing like sentinels in the heart of the salt desert, the Trichocereus pasacana cacti watch over the vast white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni. These botanical giants grow at an almost imperceptible pace—barely a centimeter per year—and some reach more than ten meters in height after several centuries of life. Their time-sculpted silhouettes stand out under the night sky, silent witnesses to the freezing nights and blazing suns of the Altiplano. On Isla Incahuasi, these immobile giants seem to converse with the stars, rooted in volcanic rock for generations.
Éclat bleu du mâle cordonbleu – Cordonbleu à joues rouges (Uraeginthus bengalus) – Ethiopie
Perched in the midst of a thorny bush, this male Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) displays his striking plumage: a bright turquoise breast and belly, highlighted by the characteristic red patch on the cheek. In females, the colors are more subdued, with less blue and no red on the face. This contrast makes it easy to distinguish between the sexes. Widespread across the savannas and shrublands of sub-Saharan Africa, this delicate little bird enlivens the Ethiopian landscape with its vivid colors and quick, lively movements, often seen in pairs or small groups.
Messenger of the Sands – Pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) – Algeria
Silent and weightless, the Pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) sweeps through the heated air like a brown arrow. It traces arabesques above the dunes, a faithful companion to wind and light. Its fleeting silhouette seems to float between earth and sky, a reminder that even in the heart of a barren expanse, life finds its place and dances with grace.
Watcher of the Sands – Eastern sand gecko (Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes) – Oman
The Eastern Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes) is a discreet and elusive creature. Recognizable by its large eyes adapted to nocturnal vision, it emerges mainly at night to hunt small insects. Its long, slender legs allow it to move nimbly across loose sand, while its pale coloration helps it blend into its surroundings. A small jewel of adaptation to the most extreme conditions.
Huangshan 黄山 – Granite Sculptures at Sunrise – China
In the stillness of early morning, the sharp peaks of Huangshan (黄山) rise against a sky brushed with shades of pink and indigo. These spectacular granite formations, shaped by millennia of erosion, stand like natural statues—powerful and solemn.
Clinging to the cliffs, the iconic Huangshan pines (Pinus hwangshanensis) defy gravity. Their twisted silhouettes, sometimes solitary, sometimes clustered, appear to dance with the rock. These resilient trees grow from granite cracks and embody longevity and strength in Chinese aesthetics.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Huangshan mountains (also named Yellow Mountains) are a living symbol of harmony between stone, vegetation, and light.
Young Gelada female (Theropithecus gelada) on a Cactus – Ethiopia
Le gelada, primate endémique des hauts plateaux d’Éthiopie, se distingue par un régime alimentaire presque exclusivement herbivore. Contrairement à la plupart des singes, il passe la majorité de sa journée à brouter de l’herbe, à la manière des ruminants. Plus de 90 % de son alimentation est composée de pousses, de graines, de racines, de fleurs… et même de cactus, dont il consomme les parties tendres riches en eau. Cette spécialisation unique parmi les primates lui permet de survivre dans les prairies d’altitude, où les ressources sont saisonnières mais abondantes.
Complicités du désert – Immidir , Algérie
Two Tuareg men exchange a glance and a few words. Their weathered faces tell as many stories as the landscape around them — that of a harsh yet familiar Sahara, made of stone, sand, and silence. Their dark chechs contrast with the brilliant desert light, filtered through the golden grasses in the foreground.
Samarcande