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.
The Ethiopian Wolf, Sentinel of the Abyssinian Highlands
Bathed in golden light, a lone figure stands against the rolling backdrop of the Ethiopian highlands.
The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), the world’s rarest wild canid, is a highland specialist, roaming open alpine grasslands in search of rodents.
This image captures the animal’s solitude and elegance within a vast, dreamlike landscape. Though elusive and threatened, it remains one of Africa’s most iconic predators—and a quiet symbol of the country’s vanishing wilderness.
Samarcande
