“Vervet monkeys of Ethiopia”: a Collection of Fine Art Photos in Shades of Blacks and Whites

The Story of the Collection

This collection of black and white photographs is dedicated to the vervet monkeys of Ethiopia. Vervet monkeys are semi-terrestrial: they live both on land and in trees. They are found mostly in East Africa.

When I photographed them, I was surprised by how many different calls they use to communicate. When I arrived, some individuals who had spotted me gave unusual cries which sounded similar. Other monkeys replied to them with different cries. I was very intrigued by this constant communication because many females had young ones.

After spending a few hours calmly approaching the monkeys, I was able to approach two groups. I created a series of photographs which captured their expressions and behaviors, and some especially beautiful scenes of females interacting with their young.

After photographing the geladas, I was very surprised by how much the looks and posture of these primates resemble human behavior. After a few hours in their company, even if they kept their distance, I had established a friendly relationship.

In this collection, I have tried to show the beauty of their hair and the expressions of their eyes. The best photo I took is certainly the picture of a female protecting her baby when I was moving towards him.