2025, Ethiopia Selection, Gelada (Theropithecus gelada), Mammals

Young Gelada female on a Cactus

Young female Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) perched on a cactus, Ethiopia

A unique specialization among primates to survive in high-altitude grasslands.

The Gelada, a primate endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands, is distinguished by an almost exclusively herbivorous diet.

Unlike most monkeys, it spends the majority of its day grazing on grass, much like a ruminant. Over 90% of its diet consists of shoots, seeds, roots, flowers… and even cacti, from which it consumes the tender, water-rich parts. This unique specialization allows it to thrive in altitude prairies where resources are seasonal but abundant. In this photograph, a young female nimbly explores the resources provided by the local flora, showcasing the species’ incredible adaptation.

2023, Algeria Selection, Encounters, Sahara

Desert Bonds: A Moment of Connection in Immidir (Algeria)

Two Tuareg men sharing a moment in the Immidir desert, Algeria

Their weathered faces tell as many stories as the landscape that surrounds them.

Two Tuareg men exchange looks and words in the heart of the Algerian Sahara.

Their weathered faces tell as many stories as the landscape that surrounds them—a harsh yet familiar Sahara made of stones, sand, and silence. Their dark tagelmusts (chechs) contrast with the brilliant desert light, filtered through the golden grasses of the foreground. This scene from Immidir illustrates the strength of human bonds within the mineral vastness.

2025, Birds, Oman Selection

Skimming Flight, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) – Oman

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) flying low over the waves, Oman

The gull skims the crest of the waves, in perfect balance between sky and sea.

In perfect harmony with the water, the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) performs a silent dance above the ocean.

A remarkable long-distance migrant, identifiable by its slate-grey mantle and yellow legs, it travels thousands of kilometers annually to reach the shores of the Indian Ocean from Northern Europe or Russia. Its low-altitude flight is more than just aesthetic: it utilizes the ground effect to conserve energy during long coastal journeys. In Oman, it is a regular visitor to the coastlines, where its elegant silhouette stands out against the deep blue of the Arabian Sea.

2025, Ethiopia Selection, Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), Mammals

The Ethiopian Wolf, Sentinel of the Abyssinian Highlands

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis) standing in the tall grass, Ethiopia

A silhouette that stands still, watchful, in the silence of the high plateaus.

At the edge of dawn, across the vast expanses of the Ethiopian highlands, the Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis) embodies elegance and discretion.

Its silent steps lead it through the high-altitude pastures, where it scans every movement in the grass, stalking its favorite prey—primarily endemic rodents. This image reveals the profound harmony between the animal and its environment: soft lines, diffused light, and a suspended silence. As a critically endangered species, this solitary predator of the Simien and Bale mountains is a symbol of the raw and fragile beauty of Abyssinia.

2024, Insects and Arachnids, Oman Selection

Grass Jewel butterfly (Freyeria trochylus) playing hide and seek behind an Oxalis leaf

Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus) behind an Oxalis leaf

Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus) playing Hide-and-Seek behind an Oxalis leaf.

A tiny and poetic encounter where wildlife blends into flora with rare delicacy.

The Grass Jewel is considered one of the smallest butterflies on the planet, with a wingspan rarely exceeding 18 mm. This photograph perfectly illustrates its natural discretion as it shelters behind the characteristic lobes of an Oxalis leaf.

2018, Underwater Pictures from Djibouti, Underwater Wildlife

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – Djibouti

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Djibouti

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – Djibouti.

In the deep, dark waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura, off the coast of Djibouti, a majestic silhouette emerges: the whale shark, the world’s largest fish.

Despite its 12 to 18 meters in length, this giant is completely harmless to humans. Its existence is governed by a simple yet formidable feeding strategy: it swims slowly with its mouth agape, filtering up to 6,000 liters of water every hour to capture plankton and tiny suspended prey. Each day, it can ingest several dozen kilograms of food. The nutrient-rich waters of Djibouti, particularly between October and February, become a crucial gathering point for these behemoths, offering observers the unforgettable sight of a gentle giant gliding through the vast blue.

2023, Algeria Selection, Encounters, Sahara

When the Desert Remembers – Algeria, Immidir Massif

When the Desert Remembers - Algeria, Immidir Massif

When the Desert Remembers – Algeria, Immidir Massif.

Beneath the golden shelter of the rock, the voices of the past still whisper in the heart of the Immidir mountains, in the Algerian Sahara.

Cave paintings stretch across the walls of a natural shelter, protected from the wind and time. Drawn in red ochre, camels, cattle, and human silhouettes form a silent fresco—a graphic memory of an ancient, humid, and vibrant Sahara. Sitting before these ancestral traces, a man of today contemplates the marks of yesterday. Between the present and the past, an invisible thread connects today’s nomads to vanished peoples, sharing the same relationship with the land, the herd, and the light. Here, rock art is not a mere vestige: it is a motionless bridge between eras, where the desert still speaks to those who know how to listen.

2013, Encounters, Kyrgyzstan Selection

The Smile of Tea – Kyrgyzstan

Tea ritual in a yurt, Kyrgyzstan

The Art of Nomadic Hospitality, Kyrgyzstan.

By the flickering light of a storm lantern, gestures are precise, repeated since childhood in the heart of the Kyrgyz highlands.

In this high-altitude yurt, black tea simmers in an enameled teapot. The hostess delicately pours the brew into piala, the small handleless bowls typical of Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, serving tea is much more than a daily task: it is a ritual of hospitality deeply rooted in nomadic culture. Never filled to the brim—out of respect and modesty—the bowl is offered with a smile, often accompanied by boorsok or warm bread. Here, around the tea, stories flow and bonds are forged; it is the heart of the home and the beginning of every encounter.

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