African Elephant Family

Three African elephants walk along a shallow waterhole, with a calf between two adults. Afternoon light falls across their ears, trunks and wrinkled gray skin. Acacias rise from dry grass behind the group, and low hills stretch across the distance. The water reflects the animals' legs along the edge of the bank.

The adults have similar coloring but different ear shapes and trunk positions. Between them, the calf's shorter legs and smaller head make a separate, compact section. Fine creases cover the skin, while dry grass forms straighter strands around the feet. Reflections repeat parts of the elephants below the bank, broken by ripples. Acacia branches are finer still, spreading horizontally above the animals rather than following their broad outlines.