FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Wonders of the wild

Wonders of the wild

Thirty-four images captured by HRH Princess Sirivannavari recall the vast open plains of the African Savannah

THE PHOTOGRAPHY exhibition “Little Wild” currently showing at Leica Gallery Bangkok is yet another testament to Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari’s artistic skills.
As the creative director of high-end fashion house, Sirivannavari and S’Homme, the Princess always travels to seek new sources of inspiration. On this occasion she headed to the African continent, her Leica cameras round her neck, and photographed wild animals and the breathtaking landscapes of Kenya.

Wonders of the wild
The exhibition, organised by Danai Sorakraikitikul, managing director of A-List Ltd, the sole distributor of Leica Camera in Thailand, continues at Gaysorn Village through April 28. 
Princess Sirivannavari presided over the grand opening and explained that “Little Wild” reflects the wild beauty of Kenya and the African continent as seen through her eyes. 
On her five-day tour last May, she experienced extreme weather, constant rainfall, high humidity, and cold nights. She travelled in jeeps and took to the sky in a hot air balloon, all the while recording her travels through still photographs, videos, and sketches. At night, she slept in a tent comforted by the soft grunts from a pod of hippos nearby.

Wonders of the wild
“It was incredible, I was riding on top of the jeep, taking photos with one hand, and sketching with the other. My favourite photo I named ‘The Lady’. It shows a female lion. It took me a long time to get the shot, as I was using a fixed lens and it was hard to get as close as I wanted to. However, the lioness is so elegant and graceful, I felt connected.” 

Wonders of the wild
The images have an almost dream-like quality, capturing sunlight falling across the vast savannah, the powerful movements of the wild animals including a rare species of giraffe, and the Masai tribal people that she had the chance to get to know personally, visiting their homes and enjoying a traditional welcome dance.
“I focused on capturing the immediate feeling of the moment, as I want to retain its natural qualities as much as possible,” she explained.
 

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