Ben Wilhelmi

Some B/W portraits, Tanzanian bush

 

A little selection over the years

This one reminds me of good memories. This young lady was shy at first, posed like for a passport picture. After 5 or 6 shots, the other girls were getting impatient to pose I guess and started to tell her to smile for my benefit. And this is my favorite shot, it has been printed in big size and has immodestly enlightened my flat for years.

 

 

Young Masai boy who has been recently circumsized. This main event in his life shows by the jewels and mostly the black cloak.

 

 

Masai portraits, Tanzanian bush

Old pictures with Flying Medical Service

I'm faffing around through my old pictures from 1999, the year I arrived in Africa, here in Tanzania.

 

One of my first proud Masai warriors posing for me. Impressive guys for a newbie. Greater Serengeti.

 

A village in western Tanzania, Kasulu.

My colleague Steve on take off, Olpirikata, Sanjan plains.

The stunning lake Natron, I couldn't Believe such a marvelous and stunning place could exist. Rift Valley.

Teenagers are the same everywhere.

A Flying Medical Service Cessna 206 on landing.

Me on my first time in the bush, Olaika, Greater Serengeti.

FMS has a knack for the craziest and or most beautiful places to land and operate. Olorbelin, lake Natron, Kenyan border.

My second emergency! This man had been dragged into a brawl with cow thieves. An Arrow landed through his forehead to his lower jaws. He sufefred a momentary speech impediment but sadly lost one eye. I had been in Tanzania for 2 weeks ...

 

Landing with a strong crosswind, Ngaresero, Bottom of the Rift Valley. The mountain is the active volcano Lengai. Another stunning place to operate into.

I was using a great SLR film camera, a Minolta X700 which I still use once in a while.

Street photography, Paris

 

Paris and food, a long lasting love (and business) story.

Kids feeding pigeons at Notre-Dame, long before the infamous fire.

A peace memorial near the military academy.

Place des Vosges.

 

I had a such a car 25 years ago. A citroen 2CV, as Spartan as a Land Rover 110 but more reliable. I know, not a real feat...

A Napoleon day at les Tuileries.

 

 

Aerial photography, Tanzania

 

 

Lake Tanganyika shoreline near Mahale park.

 

After a bushfire, Serengeti.

Flying down a gorge, Ngorongoro area. The camera points forwards, placed alongside the aircraft fuselage.

A precious waterhole...

Lake Natron, the magnificient Wonder. That salt lake is unique in its kind and is getting many scientists excited.

Ashes after volcanic activity, volcano Lengai area.

Lesser flamingos, lake Natron.

Buffalos and cattle egrets.

12 years ago, after the eruption period, a new crater top was born, volcano Lengai.

 

Life starts around a Masai village one early Morning. Near northern Serengeti

B/W portraits in the Tanzanian bush

 

 

 

 

Aerials and others, lake Natron, Tanzania

 

Shadow and reflection on the salted surface.

An extinct volcano on the Kenyan border; Shombole.

The Cessna 206, the workhorse I used by then.

Monik, one unchartered airstrip on the western shore.

The only breeding place in Africa for flamingoes. Let's hope that salt factory planning will never see the day, will never have a chance to ruin the whole lake as it has happened in lake Magadi, Kenya.

The main neighbor is that active volcano, Oloinyo Lengai.

Portraits, Tanzania

 

B/W sepia portraits in the bush, Tanzania