The art of black and white in nature by Levi Van den Berg

This work focuses on the zebra, captured in a sharp portrait that beautifully highlights its iconic black and white stripe pattern. The symmetrical lines of the stripes run perfectly across his face and body, creating a natural work of art that is both simple and complex. The background is kept vague, further highlighting the zebra and drawing your eyes directly to its unique patterns and expression. A subtle detail that stands out is the way the light falls on his ears, and the sharpness of his eyes that give a curious, but also observant look.

The inspiration for this work came from an encounter with a herd of zebra's in the wild, where I was struck by the harmony of their patterns. The contrast of the black and white stripes, against the soft colours of the African savannah, gave me the idea of capturing the beauty and individuality of a single zebra. Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, just like a fingerprint, and I wanted to emphasise that idea of uniqueness in this photograph.

The mood I wanted to set with this work is one of calm and natural elegance. The zebra exudes a certain calmness, as if it is fully aware of its beauty but does not allow itself to be defined by it.

With this work, I wanted to highlight the wonders of nature and how even the simplest patterns can reveal profound beauty. The technique I used played with contrasts to bring out the zebra in its full splendour, with each line and shadow highlighting its uniqueness.