Sometimes what begins as an ordinary photograph becomes something extraordinary — not because of the moment it was captured, but because of what it becomes later. That was certainly the case with Ethereal Majesty.
The story began in the Karoo, where I was travelling with my father, Martin Osner. We were travelling through the open quiet of the semi-desert, a place of long horizons and a calm that settles gently over everything. It was during this trip that we came across a magnificent elephant — one of Africa’s iconic Big Five. Strong, wise, and beautifully weathered by time, it carried a sense of dignity that demanded to be captured.
I photographed the elephant, but something about the image never quite spoke to me. While the composition was technically sound, the surroundings were busy and dull. The animal’s natural strength and elegance seemed lost against the cluttered background. As a result, the image sat quietly on my hard drive for years — waiting.
When I rediscovered it years later, I realised that what the image lacked was not beauty, but focus. Wildlife photography, especially when it comes to subjects like the elephant, can easily rely on grandeur alone — the subject itself is inherently impressive. But I wanted to go beyond documentation. I wanted to capture the quiet nobility of the elephant, its endurance and wisdom, in a way that a straightforward photograph could not.
That’s when I decided to reimagine the image as a piece of mixed media art. I printed it on fine art paper and began painting over the background with acrylic paint. With each brushstroke, the busy scene softened and the elephant began to emerge in its rightful prominence. The shift from photographic realism to painterly abstraction brought calm and clarity to the image — the noise faded, and what remained was essence.
Because the shape of an elephant is so instantly recognisable, it allowed me to simplify and experiment with texture without losing the integrity of the subject. The form itself — powerful, yet gentle — held its identity even as I layered acrylic paint and texture across the background. In that simplicity lay the key: the viewer doesn’t need every detail to connect emotionally; sometimes, what’s left unsaid speaks the loudest.
After painting, I re-photographed the piece and layered subtle textures digitally, deepening the tones and enhancing the tactile surface. The result was a soft, atmospheric harmony between photography and painting — between texture and transformation. The work felt alive, breathing with the spirit of the elephant and the stillness of its surroundings.
The location itself had played a part in shaping this vision. The photograph was taken near Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, a privately owned sanctuary set between Montagu and Barrydale in the Little Karoo. It’s one of South Africa’s largest private reserves — a vast expanse of rugged mountains, open plains, and wandering wildlife. Sanbona, like much of the Karoo, is a place of raw beauty — arid, understated, and timeless. It’s a landscape that teaches patience and respect for space, something I wanted to reflect in this work.
What began as a simple image evolved into something far more meaningful — a portrayal of strength, wisdom, and calm presence. Ethereal Majesty captures not just an elephant, but a quiet reverence for nature and the transformative power of creative expression.
Today, Ethereal Majesty is available as a limited-edition fine art print, and it has also become part of our Celebration Print Collection — a smaller, more accessible format available over the counter at our galleries in Hout Bay, Montagu, and Napier.
It’s a piece that continues to connect with visitors — perhaps because it balances simplicity with depth, transforming what was once overlooked into something timeless. A gentle reminder that beauty often reveals itself only when the moment is right.
