Brushstrokes Of Gold: Giraffe Portrait Shines In Global Wildlife Fundraiser

An ethereal glimpse of a Maasai giraffe drinking at night is part of a global wildlife photography sale raising vital funds for conservation

In the stillness of night on Shompole Community Land in southern Kenya, a Maasai-owned giraffe cautiously approaches a watering hole. “Every movement was slow and deliberate,” recalls photographer Gurcharan Roopra. “Photographing this moment meant waiting in silence, working in near-total darkness. With a long exposure and just a flicker of light, I captured the graceful arc of motion as it drank – a fleeting, almost mythical scene. One frame. One breath. The photo is a rare glimpse into the secret life of the wild.”

A Brushstroke of Gold is among more than 200 images featured in Edition Hope, the 2025 return of Prints for Wildlife, one of the world’s largest wildlife photography print sales. The fundraiser brings together many of the planet’s leading nature photographers – from globally recognised names to emerging talents.

All proceeds from the sale benefit Conservation International, a global non-profit that works to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems and support the livelihoods of communities that live closest to nature. Since its launch in 2020, Prints for Wildlife has raised over £1.6 million for conservation efforts worldwide.

Each limited-edition print, including A Brushstroke of Gold, is priced at £100 and available exclusively at printsforwildlife.org for a limited time only.

Main image: Gurcharan Roopra