The Fisherman | From the shores of Mnemba island

The Fisherman | From the shores of Mnemba island

Mnemba island is a tiny atoll off the coast of Zanzibar. It is a place where thousands of birds nest and the world seems like a distant memory. You are living one with nature here, with the dik diks (a small antelope similar to a duiker), the marine life and sea breeze.

Local fisherman float by mainly in the morning to deliver their catch to the island lodge. If you have ever wanted fresh seafood, you can't beat this. Literally from the sea to your plate.

I was walking around the island very early one morning photographing the thousands and thousands of terns and other marine birds, when the most beautiful little Ngalawa (Zanzibari fishing boat), with a clean, almost white sail, sailed past. At that moment the sea was an outstanding colour of turquoise similar to the belly of a Lilac breasted roller and white sail bounced off the water like a cloud in the sky.

This image for me is one of my favourites. It was a very early image I took in my journey of becoming a photographer but it sticks with me. That day, the feeling I felt when the man sailed past, it was like I was taken back in time to a world that lived together in peace and all that mattered was right in front of you.

I hope we can all be a little more like that.

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The Fisherman