Meeting Michael: The Story Behind One of My Favourite Elephant Prints
- Johan Siggesson
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 11
Some photographs stay with you longer than others. Not just because of how they look, but because of how they were made. The moment, the feeling, and the subject all come together in a way that feels personal. My black and white elephant print 'Michael' is one of those images. A fine art print that carries more than just visual weight. Michael is part of a well-known elephant family in Amboseli. His mother is Mable, a respected matriarch who has raised several calves in the area. Like many wild elephants, Michael’s father isn’t documented, which is common in a landscape where bulls come and go. But through Mable, he belongs to one of the established family lines that have shaped the Amboseli ecosystem for decades.
'Michael' It’s not just a portrait of a big tusker. For me, it was a personal encounter with one of Africa’s legends to be. A quiet moment that carried weight. Something I’ll never forget.
This was my first time seeing Michael in the wild. I had heard about him before. He’s well known in the area. A true super tusker, one of the last of his kind. Even among giants, Michael stands out. Not just because of his size, but because of the calm dominance he carries. He doesn’t need to prove anything. He moves through the landscape like he belongs to it. And he does.
I photographed him in Amboseli National Park in Kenya, a place known for its wide open spaces, big elephant herds, and the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain didn’t show that day, hidden behind clouds. But it didn’t matter. Michael was more than enough. When he walked into view, everything else just faded into the background.
When Michael stepped into the clearing, everything seemed to slow down. The other elephants moved aside, almost as if making space for him. Calm and confident, he walked straight toward our vehicle. He came so close I had to zoom all the way out on my 70 to 200mm lens. As always, I aimed for a slightly lower angle, not to create drama but to emphasise his sheer height and quiet strength. I wanted a portrait that felt as grounded and powerful as he was. Something that could stand alone as a piece of elephant wall art, quiet but strong.
From the beginning, I knew this image needed to be in black and white. Colour would have added too much distraction. Without it, the textures in his skin, the weight of his tusks, and the stillness of the moment became more defined. There’s a simplicity in monochrome that adds both timelessness and a quiet sophistication. It lets the subject speak for itself.
The result is one of my personal favourite black and white elephant prints to date. Simply titled 'Michael', it represents more than just an animal. It’s a tribute to a rare life, a quiet kind of strength, and a memory I’ll always carry with me. I don’t know what the future holds for him, but if he lives a long life, maybe one day he’ll be remembered alongside other iconic super tuskers of Amboseli, like Tim and Craig.
