Following the 'Bird Boys' of Gaborone

Ready to shoot: Moneke, Lekgowe and Letsholo PICS: THALEFANG CHARLES
Ready to shoot: Moneke, Lekgowe and Letsholo PICS: THALEFANG CHARLES

On an early wintry Sunday morning with chilling easterly winds, three photographers park by the roadside at Gaborone Dam. As they unpack their gear from vehicles they all change into waterproof boots - and this important detail for the dress code was not communicated to me, their guest. So I am already worried about my All-Star sneakers, ruing, why did I not think there would be the walking in the water part on this assignment?

That is how I met Mabedi Letsholo of Mabedilets Photography, Brians Moneke of Brains Bond Nature Photography and Oteng Lekgowe of Oteng Lekgowe Photography. They are all Gaborone-based nature photographers who are juggling their ‘nine-to-five’ jobs with capturing beautiful images around the city.

Letsholo is a civil servant at the former president’s office as private secretary to Ian Khama. Letsholo, 34, is shooting on a Canon 90D with a Canon 100-400mm USM lens. He is the master of the bokeh. He loves the shallow depth of field. His photography is characterised by sharp subjects framed by pleasing blurred backgrounds. And it works perfectly with small colourful birds.

Editor's Comment
FMD crisis: We must fight as one

That should concern every Motswana. The implications extend far beyond cattle and farmers. Botswana’s beef industry is a critical pillar of the economy, supporting thousands of households and sustaining businesses along the value chain.The loss of access to lucrative export markets has already demonstrated how quickly an animal-health crisis can become an economic crisis.This is, therefore, not the time for complacency, blame, or political...

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