Below the Surface — two hippos at eye level in a river, black and white fine art photograph from Maasai Mara, Kenya by Vasilis Moustakas
Below the Surface — two hippos at eye level in a river, black and white fine art photograph from Maasai Mara, Kenya by Vasilis Moustakas

Below the Surface

$1,000.00

Maasai Mara, Kenya 2023

They were in the river checking the area. Only their eyes and the curve of the back showing above the water. I wanted to photograph them at eye level. Hippos are aggressive so we had to keep a safe distance and work from there. What I was after was the balance between the two and the low light on the water — it made the scene feel dramatic, a little mysterious. With an animal that is mostly hidden you only get what it gives you.

Format is something I think about a lot in the field. This one wanted to be panoramic. The water needed space around the animals, the reflections, the dark surface, the light on the back of the bigger one. A tight crop would have killed it. When I press the shutter I am already seeing the print on a wall.

This image belongs to The Heart of the Wild. The whole thing started long before the trip, when I was a kid in Greece watching The Lion King. First time I felt something for wildlife. I couldn't put a name on it then. The Mara stayed in my head for years as a place from films and documentaries, far away from me. Then one day I was on a small plane from Nairobi watching the plains open up below.

Black and white is always my main choice. In a scene like this it takes everything else away and leaves the wet skin, the eyes above the water, the dark of the river. Nothing around to pull at you.

Maasai Mara, Kenya 2023

They were in the river checking the area. Only their eyes and the curve of the back showing above the water. I wanted to photograph them at eye level. Hippos are aggressive so we had to keep a safe distance and work from there. What I was after was the balance between the two and the low light on the water — it made the scene feel dramatic, a little mysterious. With an animal that is mostly hidden you only get what it gives you.

Format is something I think about a lot in the field. This one wanted to be panoramic. The water needed space around the animals, the reflections, the dark surface, the light on the back of the bigger one. A tight crop would have killed it. When I press the shutter I am already seeing the print on a wall.

This image belongs to The Heart of the Wild. The whole thing started long before the trip, when I was a kid in Greece watching The Lion King. First time I felt something for wildlife. I couldn't put a name on it then. The Mara stayed in my head for years as a place from films and documentaries, far away from me. Then one day I was on a small plane from Nairobi watching the plains open up below.

Black and white is always my main choice. In a scene like this it takes everything else away and leaves the wet skin, the eyes above the water, the dark of the river. Nothing around to pull at you.

‘‘You only get what the animal gives you.’’

Below the Surface — black and white hippo fine art print, framed, by Vasilis Moustakas

The Edition

Edition of 7 + 2 Artist Proofs

The seven prints are shared across all three sizes, so whichever scale you choose, it is one of seven. When the last print is placed, the image is retired and never printed again.

Pricing follows the edition. Each print placed moves the next one up, so the earliest collectors acquire the work at its lowest price.

Sizes

Small: 24 × 13.25 in (61 × 34 cm)
Medium: 36 × 19.75 in (91 × 50 cm)
Large: 60 × 32.75 in (152 × 83 cm)

Prices begin at $1,000 for the Small print.

The Print

Each print is made as an archival pigment print on Hahnemühle fine art paper, chosen for its depth, tonal range and a surface that rewards close looking. Every print is signed and numbered by hand and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity recording the title, edition number and production details.

Framing

Bespoke framing is available on request. Tell me about the wall and the room, and I'll put together a frame, mount and finish that suit both the work and where it will live.

Acquiring the Work

For pricing and availability, write to me directly. Every enquiry is answered personally.

ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS PRINT
Framing and Display Options