Elephants from a Bunker – Photographs by J&B Photographers

A mighty African elephant sways its trunk inches away from the lens, investigating the human smells emanating from a three foot high rectangular slit. Cramped inside the low concrete bunker, South African photographers Jill Sneesby and Barry Wilkins capture spectacular low angle shots of elephants and other wild visitors to the waterhole.

“It is quite safe down the bunker”, says Jill, “though when you are inside, your view covers about 120 degrees in front and you have no idea what animals might be approaching from behind. The bunker opening is too small for an elephant, but a lion could certainly fit through, so one person always stays outside in the vehicle to keep a look out for lions or other predators. When it comes to time to leave for the day, we sometimes need to wait patiently for animals to move away. Although they are generally more scared of us than we are of them, one will occasionally give it a go, and no-one can outrun a lion, elephant or rhino!”