A visual essay by Aleix Planas Saborit
Silverback
Uganda
A vision by Aleix Planas Saborit
We have been walking for more than three hours cutting our way through the dense forest, surrounded by tall trees and lush undergrowth. An earthy smell of rotting wood and the sound of creaking branches fill the atmosphere—otherwise, stillness; No signs of animal life so far. Suddenly, the air becomes laden with excitement as one of the trackers tells us that one of the gorilla families is resting nearby.
Ready to spot them, we start walking towards them through the forest, quietly. We keep walking until a sudden roar makes our blood curdle. A stunning silverback appears in front of us, the alpha male of the family. He bares his teeth. His overweighing dominance paralyses us, leaving us in a mixed state of fear and wonder for a few seconds. Before we are even able to make sense of the moment, we realise that the silverback has left and is now lying down next to one of the females and babies of the family.
Ready to spot them, we start walking towards them through the forest, quietly. We keep walking until a sudden roar makes our blood curdle. A stunning silverback appears in front of us, the alpha male of the family. He bares his teeth. His overweighing dominance paralyses us, leaving us in a mixed state of fear and wonder for a few seconds. Before we are even able to make sense of the moment, we realise that the silverback has left and is now lying down next to one of the females and babies of the family.
Photography, film & words by Aleix Planas Saborit
Edited by Bis Turnor & Pablo David López
Traveller/s
Aleix Planas Saborit
Graphic designer and photographer
Aleix Planas is a graphic designer and photographer from Gurb (Barcelona). While studying and working in the United Kingdom, he started taking photographs as a way to document and interact with all the stimuli present in his new, daily life. At that point, photography becomes an additional means of creation for him, ultimately filling those creative gaps to which graphic design alone couldn‘t have given a response.
Further seeking adventures with his camera, he later decided to travel around the world. In his travels, photography allows him to connect and better understand the things around him.
@peixorocks
