THE GOVERNOR

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda 2019

This portrait taken at around 11,000 feet in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda was as hard earned as any portrait I have taken. It can be a slog up the mountain in the rainy season and even when you encounter a silverback, so many variables that are beyond anyone’s control have to work in the favour of the artist.

Firstly, I prefer cloud cover, as a strong sun scattering shafts of intense light through the canopy of the rainforest is not a good bedfellow for portraiture. Secondly, I al- ways prefer some degree of room to work with and 50% of my trips up that hill have not given me that opportunity - the vegetation is just too dense - on the ground and above. I do need some light to play with to help my depth of focus. Thirdly, the silverback has to play ball - and that is not easy - in my experience the earlier the encounter in the day, the greater the opportunity of meeting an alert and compliant gorilla.

This is the son of Kwitonda - a famous silverback who passed away recently and it is this son who is now the Governor on this side of the volcano. I think his face makes that crystal clear and that was from the outset my intent. He is - at every level - e Governor. It was a good way to end 2019 - the light was kind and the level of facial detail transcends most of my previous work with gorillas. 

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AVAILABLE SIZES
LARGE
Image: 56" x 72" (143 x 183 cm)
Framed: 67" x 83" (171 cm x  211 cm)

STANDARD
Image: 37" x 48" (94 x 122 cm)
Framed: 48" x 59" (122 cm x 150 cm)
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​AVAILABLE EDITIONS
LARGE: Edition of 12
STANDARD: Edition of 12