At first, the photograph is almost entirely bark and branches. The surfaces are broken, dry and uneven. In the middle of them sits an owl.
The shape of its head is the easiest place to begin. Once that becomes clear, the outline of its body follows. Feathers and wood share similar colours, and the surrounding branches break up the edges.
This is a photograph worth looking at slowly. A quick glance can miss much of the subject. The longer I look, the more distinct the bird becomes, although the tree never stops being part of the picture.
There is no need to turn it into a dramatic encounter. The image holds enough on its own: an animal sitting quietly, an intricate background, and the small adjustments our eyes make as they work out what is there.
Much of wildlife photography is presented through obvious subjects in open space. This frame asks for a different sort of attention. The owl occupies the centre, but finding it is part of looking at the photograph.
More photographs and stories: Mkuze: Waiting for the Wild to Appear · South Africa photographs.
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