Why I Keep Coming Back to this Giraffe Print
- Johan Siggesson
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 10
Giraffes have always stood out to me. There’s a calm, graceful presence in the way they move, quiet but unmistakable. When I photograph them, I’m not only drawn to their height or patterns, but to the space they hold. There’s something about a black and white giraffe print that brings a stillness into the room. It doesn’t shout for attention. It simply belongs.
I haven’t spent as much time with giraffes as I have with elephants or lions. But the few moments I’ve had with them have left an impression. There’s something in their movement, their posture, their quiet way of being that stays with you. It’s a subject I’d like to return to more often.
The Story Behind "You'll Never Walk Alone"
This image was taken in the Masai Mara during one of those early mornings when the light is soft and the land feels endless. I had been watching a group of giraffes move slowly across the plain. They weren’t rushing, and they weren’t huddled together. Each one kept its space, but stayed close enough to be part of something shared.
There was a quiet rhythm to their movement. I framed the scene wide, giving space to each animal and letting the negative space tell part of the story. I called the image "You'll Never Walk Alone" because that is what it felt like. A quiet kind of companionship. A sense of connection without needing to be close.
I would like to explore giraffes more in the future. They offer something different. Not dramatic or intense, but peaceful, steady, and quietly powerful.
3 funny Giraffe Facts
They only sleep for about 30 minutes a day
Giraffes are the ultimate light sleepers. They nap in short bursts and often sleep standing up. That’s less than most toddlers on a bad day.
Their necks have the same number of bones as ours
Despite being up to two metres long, a giraffe's neck has just seven vertebrae which is the same as humans. Each one is just... a lot bigger.
They can clean their ears with their tongues
A giraffe's tongue can be over 45 cm long and is prehensile. Long enough to grab leaves and — yes — give their ears a bit of a lick if needed.
What Makes a Giraffe Print Special
There’s something calm and unhurried about giraffes that I find really appealing. They move with ease, always aware of their surroundings, never in a rush. That sense of stillness comes through in the photographs. A giraffe print isn’t just about the animal. It’s about the quiet feeling it leaves you with. It’s not loud or dramatic. It simply holds your attention, in a quiet and steady way.
As usual, I lean toward black and white when printing giraffes. It simplifies the scene and brings out the form. It lets you focus on the way the animal carries itself, the light in the sky, the lines in the land.
Where Giraffe Prints Belong
Giraffe prints work well in all kinds of spaces. In homes, they add height and calm to a living room, hallway, or study. In offices or studios, they bring a natural presence without being distracting. Whether the room is modern, minimal, or filled with texture and warmth, a giraffe image fits easily into the space.
Some prints are strong centrepieces. Others are more subtle and quiet. The key is choosing one that reflects the atmosphere you want to create.
Why Giraffes Stay With Me
Giraffes might not grab your attention the way a lion or elephant does, but there is something about them that stays with you. They carry a quiet strength and a sense of calm that feels grounding. A giraffe print captures that calm mood somehow.
