The destination of this year's expedition was Kenya. It was my first trip back to Kenya in some time, and it gives one the strangest sensation: as soon as you drive out of the capital Nairobi, you can feel the African landscape seeping into your bones, as if it were a daily encounter for your eyes, your body. It's a pleasant sensation that makes visiting Africa feel like a kind of homecoming.There's an old saying that those who have imbibed the waters of Africa will return there. It's a land that abounds with life force, an eternal energy where the scars of the plow and hoe are few and far between. Indeed, the energy of Africa exemplifies the energy of planet Gaea. One can't help but feeling that if mankind were to lay waste to this vast majestic continent, the great natural balance of the earth itself would be destroyed.I find beauty in the workings of the animal kingdom. We humans can draw energy from nature just by observing wildlife. A happy and relaxed feeling comes over us and we find ourselves smiling naturally. In my view, Africa is the place where hope for our planet remains. It could well be that the natural environment and its wild inhabitants hold the key to how we can best live in symbiotic harmony with the Earth in the future. Yes, let us be clear of eye and pure of body, and I get the feeling giraffes will be nodding their long, graceful necks in approval.
Mitsuaki Iwago's stunning wildlife photography has won international acclaim.
His distinct use of colors and contrast has been highly acclaimed by the international media, which has dubbed them "Iwago's Colors." His work has been featured on the cover of National Geographic twice and he has published several books, including Serengeti: Natural Order on the African Plain, which has become a worldwide bestseller, and many more featuring wildlife. Born in Tokyo in 1950, Iwago' career as a wildlife photographer was inspired by a visit to the Galapagos Islands at the age of 19. Since then, his field of photographic activity has extended to every continent on the planet. In recent years, he has taken many images of nature and wildlife around the world, including polar bears in arctic Canada and giant pandas and crested ibis in China using Olympus E-Series digital cameras. Some of his work can be seen at "Digital Iwago" (Japanese only). His images that warn the world of rapid changes in the environment and their impacts are also available at "Global Warming Witness - Mitsuaki Iwago Special Site."
