At the Foot of the Mountain: A Signature Piece of Elephant Wall Art
- Johan Siggesson
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 11
Some images take shape quickly. Others unfold slowly over time. "At the Foot of the Mountain" is one of those images. It has become one of my most recognisable pieces of elephant wall art, and for good reason. It carries weight, not only because of what’s in the frame, but because of what it took to capture that moment.
This is the story of how the image came to be, what I saw through the viewfinder, and why it continues to connect with people who appreciate quiet, powerful work.
The Setting: Open Space and a Mountain That Waits
The photograph was taken in Amboseli National Park in Kenya, a landscape shaped by light, dust, and distance. On most days, Mount Kilimanjaro sits quietly in the background. Sometimes it is completely hidden. Other times it hovers — faint, but unmistakable. That morning, it was there, just enough to earn its place in the frame.
The mountain does not steal attention in this image. It’s part of the scene, but not the subject. It looms quietly, adding depth and scale without taking over. That balance is what the title speaks to. The elephants move forward, unaware, at the foot of something vast and silent.
The Patience Behind the Image
Some wildlife images happen by luck. You round a corner and find something you never expected. Others are different. They live in your mind long before they exist in your camera. "At the Foot of the Mountain" was one of those.
It had been in my head for a long time. The idea of elephants marching in single file across the open plains was a classic one, but I didn’t just want the behaviour. I wanted it framed in a way that felt clean, powerful, and timeless. That image was one of the main reasons I chose to visit Amboseli in October 2023.
I knew the scene I wanted. But wanting it was only the start.
For a photograph like this to come together, a lot needs to fall into place at once. The elephants need to move in formation. Ideally toward the camera, at an angle that shows the full line. There needs to be some consistency in spacing. Not too close, not too far. The lead elephant should have a strong presence, preferably with good tusks and ears wide open. Other photographers nearby need to stay calm and avoid disturbing the scene. The background should be clean. No trees, no bushes. Just elephants and open space.
Then there’s the light. I didn’t want harsh sun. I was hoping for overcast skies to create a more even, diffused tone. And of course, I needed all of this to happen near the road. In Amboseli National Park, driving off-road is not allowed.
We had found a spot where elephants often crossed. So we waited. And waited. Some days the elephants came, but the light was wrong. Other times the light was perfect, but the composition wasn’t. Too much space between the individuals. Or the group spread out. Or the lead elephant turned at the last second. Over and over, it almost came together.
By day eight, I knew every angle of that stretch of land. I had spent hours in the same place, hoping for the right pieces to fall into place.
That morning was cloudy. We were already in position. A group of elephants approached from a distance. At first, it looked like every other attempt. But then I noticed something. They were moving together. Not rushed. Not scattered. The lead elephant had strong tusks. The line behind him held. No one broke off. They kept walking forward, toward my camera, through the open space.
I stayed low. Framed them as they came closer. And this time, they didn’t scatter. They didn’t shift. Everything I had imagined finally happened in front of me.
That is how "At the Foot of the Mountain" was created. Not in a rush of adrenaline, but through patience, planning, and showing up every day until the moment finally appeared.
"Some images come quickly. Others ask you to wait, to stay still, and to trust the moment will arrive. This was one of those." - Johan Siggesson
A Lasting Elephant Print
What makes this image work is its simplicity. There is a stillness to it. A sense of balance. The elephants are not larger than life. They are part of the land. They belong there.
Many elephant prints focus tightly on the animal itself. This one pulls back. It shows where they live and how they move through that space. For me, that makes it strong. It becomes more than a portrait. It becomes part of something wider.
As a piece of elephant wall art, it offers something that stays with you. It brings calm and presence to a room. It works without needing to dominate the space.
Printing It Large and Letting It Breathe
Some images need space. Not just on the wall, but in how they are experienced. "At the Foot of the Mountain" is one of those. It is not about creating impact for the sake of it. It is about giving the subject room to exist in a way that feels honest.
Elephants carry presence. Their movement, their size, their calm strength all hold weight. When the composition is built around space and stillness, printing large helps those qualities come through. You are not just looking at the animals. You are sharing the space with them.
I choose to print large when the image calls for it. Not every photograph needs that treatment, but this one did. With a larger format, the viewer can take in the full scene. You see the space between the elephants. You notice the textures in the land. You feel the pace of the moment.
Printing on quality paper helps too. The tones are smoother. The image holds more depth. It becomes something that sits quietly in a room and draws you in over time. Not with volume, but with presence.
That is what I look for when I print big. It is not about size for the sake of it. It is about staying true to the feeling I had in the field. The image deserves that kind of space, and so does the viewer.
The Purpose Behind Elephant Photography
Elephants are among the most powerful animals to photograph. But good elephant photography isn’t just about showing how big or strong they are. It’s about capturing a moment that feels real. One that reflects how they move, how they exist, and how they hold space.
In this image, the elephants are not alone. The mountain, the dust, the light, it all matters. That sense of place adds weight to the image. It gives it context. And that’s what gives the viewer something more to hold on to.
Why Elephant Wall Art Matters in the Home
I’ve seen this image used in homes, offices, and gallery spaces. It fits because it has presence without pressure. It’s calm. It settles into the room. That’s something people often look for in elephant wall art , not just a visual subject, but a feeling.
The image invites the viewer to pause. To look longer. To take in more than just the animals. It’s that kind of depth that makes a print last.
A Quiet Moment That Lives On
Wildlife photography often focuses on the chase. On the rare or the dramatic. But some of the strongest moments are the quiet ones. "At the Foot of the Mountain" came from one of those quiet mornings. Everything was still, and for a brief moment, everything aligned.
I keep going back to that idea in my work. That stillness matters. That you don’t always need drama to make an impact.
If you are looking for elephant wall art that brings a sense of calm, space, and natural presence into your home, this piece may be the one. It holds a moment that I still think about today. And I hope it offers that same feeling to whoever lives with it on their wall.
