Botswana, Borneo, and Beyond

Each month, Bluedot Living will feature a photo essay by Yasmin Namini, a former Chief Consumer Officer at the New York Times, who is now traveling the world taking photographs. At Bluedot, we believe that celebrating the Earth’s most enchanting creatures, cultures, and landscapes will inspire us to help preserve them.

Bluedot Living: When did you start photographing, both amateur and professionally?  
Yasmin Namini: It’s tough to pinpoint an exact moment when I began photographing, but as a kid I remember taking photos with my dad’s Polaroid Instant Camera. I just loved that the image was ready within minutes of snapping it. I was in my 20s when I took my first “adult” trip to Italy, armed with a Pentax point and shoot film camera. An image from the Carnival in Venice, taken with that Pentax, remains one of my favorite photos till today. I knew nothing about the Exposure Triangle or lighting. I was just snapping away. Honestly, I still don’t think of myself as a professional photographer. I see myself as an enthusiastic student of the art form. When I compare my work to those of the many photographers I admire, I’m reminded of how much I have yet to learn and explore.

BDL: What was your first camera? And, do you remember your first subject matter/first subject that caught your attention that you knew you had to explore?
YN: When my Pentax died, I bought my first “real” camera, a Canon Rebel G. This was back in the film days of the early ‘90s. I also caught the adventure travel bug around the same time. I booked a trip down the Manú River in Peru, which runs along the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains into the southern Amazon basin. Our small group had a single wish: to catch a glimpse of the elusive jaguar, a very rare sight at that time. Towards the end of our first full day on the river, as the sun was setting, our canoe captain’s adopted son whispered “ jaguar” and pointed. A gorgeous jaguar was crossing the river. We all grabbed our cameras and started snapping. I remember checking to see how many shots were left on the roll of film in my camera, as there was no time to change the roll. Phew, fifteen! The jaguar crossed the river, looked at us from the river bank, then quickly disappeared into the rainforest. The encounter was exhilarating. It was the highlight of my trip and forever sealed my love for travel and photography, making them an intrinsic part of my life’s journey. 

BDL: How did you perfect your craft?
YN: Perfecting my craft is an ongoing endeavor. For me, it’s an artistic journey without an end. Long before the internet, I took in-person classes at the International Center for Photography (ICP) in New York City. In recent years, I’ve taken advantage of the abundance of online resources, from classes to webinars. I’ve attended so many live photography webinars, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m extremely grateful to the many professional photographers who generously shared their technique, insights, wisdom and love of the craft with us. Yet, nothing truly replaces hands-on learning. It’s practice, practice, practice. You have to get out there, explore the world through your camera lens, and take pictures!

BDL: What would you still like to learn?
YN: Photography is a never-ending process of acquiring and refining my skills, as well as finding fresh inspiration. These days, I really enjoy going on photography workshops led by seasoned professional photographers. I have so much to learn from these super-talented women and men. Many pros offer workshops as it’s become a primary source of income for them. It’s an opportunity to learn from the best, explore new places, make new friends, and return home with some amazing photographs.

Meerkats at Dawn, Botswana.
As dawn breaks in Botswana, a close-knit meerkat clan emerges from their burrows, poised for the day's foraging. The adults vigilantly scan the horizon, while the youngsters stay close. I love this image because it captures the essence of familial bonds in the animal kingdom. Meerkats are social animals who live in groups as large as forty. Resilient and collaborative, they exemplify communal living where everyone participates in gathering food, keeping a look out for predators, and taking care of the babies.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; 1/40 second; f/32; ISO 100

Celestial Dancing Lightshow, Kirkjufell, Iceland.
An awe-inspiring experience as I stand with Kirkjufell, under a dazzling show of the Northern Lights. Imagine the sky dancing above this iconic mountain. To our eyes, the Aurora Borealis resembles swiftly moving clouds; but the camera reveals a vibrant symphony of neon green hues. It's like a front-row seat to the universe’s most mesmerizing light show, where our little Earth meets the infinite cosmos. Absolutely breathtaking!
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5; 8 seconds; f/2.8; ISO 1,600

An Orphan's Embrace, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo.
I captured this intimate moment between an older orangutan surrogate mother and an orphaned baby orangutan at Borneo's Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Mom effortlessly navigates a rope while the baby is comfortably nestled against her chest gazing out with an enchanting tranquility. Within this sanctuary, a buddy system is used to mimic natural maternal instruction, where orphaned orangutans are trained to survive in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV; 1/800 second; f/5.6; ISO 5000

Sunset Tapestry, Lake Washington Park, Melbourne, Florida.
I experienced this breathtaking Floridian sunset at Lake Washington Park in Melbourne, Florida. Thick grey clouds served as a canvas for the evening hues of fiery orange and yellow, their reflections shimmering on the calm lake surface. A stunning and soothing tapestry of colors after a fulfilling day of photographing birds.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS R5; 1/100 sec; f/9; ISO 100

Mountain Gorillas of Virunga, Volcanoes National Park, Virunga Mountains, Rwanda.
On my 50th birthday, I gifted myself an unforgettable journey—a gorilla trek in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, a sanctuary to ten mountain gorilla families. Navigating the steep volcanic slopes, the challenge of the journey was outweighed by the extraordinary reward of spending an hour immersed in the captivating world of these charismatic beings. For me, observing these magnificent great apes thrive against all odds was a poignant reflection on life itself.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; 1/60 second; f/5.6; ISO 3,200

Master of Disguise, Madagascar.
The Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko, endemic to Madagascar, conceals itself with remarkable mastery. Its superb camouflage blurs the line between creature and foliage, effortlessly imitating the guise of a decaying fern branch from head to tail. This macro image taken on a night walk, captures the Gecko's remarkable ability to disguise itself. It’s a stunning example of nature’s masterful craft of survival for even the smallest of earth’s creatures.
Equipment, settings: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV; 1/200 second; f/8; ISO 800

All photographs copyright Yasmin Namini.