First Flight
MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa
Before the leopards, before the elephants, before I understood just how deeply Africa would change the direction of my photography, there was this little bird.
I photographed this Lilac-breasted Roller at MalaMala in South Africa, and it became the very first bird I ever photographed on the African continent.
At the time, I couldn't have known what would follow.
Africa would eventually send me home with thousands of photographs, unforgettable encounters, and an entirely new appreciation for wildlife as fine art. But this image came first.
What struck me immediately was the color. Lilac, turquoise, cobalt, green, gold. Against the soft warmth of the African landscape, this tiny bird seemed almost impossibly beautiful, as though someone had taken a painter's palette and given it wings.
I wanted the finished artwork to preserve that sense of wonder. Rather than treating it strictly as a wildlife photograph, I approached it as a portrait, allowing the color, delicate posture, long tail feathers, and remarkable eye to become the story.
Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give First Flight is that we chose to live with it ourselves. A print of this image hangs in our own home, where it remains a reminder of where an unexpected part of my photographic journey began.
Sometimes you recognize the important photographs immediately. Others reveal their importance years later.
First Flight was the beginning.
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Questions about this piece? Sizing, framing, or a closer look - Sarah replies within 1-2 days.
- Edition Collector's Reserve Edition · Limited to 50 · Signed & Numbered
- Pricing $2,449 - $15,139 depending on size & presentation
- Delivery Production 14-21 business days + insured shipping 7-14 days
- Medium Archival Fine Art Print
- Origin MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa
- Available Sizes 24×36" · 32×48" · 40×60" · 48×72" · 60×90"
- Frame Options Acrylic Mount · Black Float · Dark Brown Float
- Shipping US & Canada
- Artist Sarah L Glabman
Museum-Quality Framing
Every piece is crafted with the same care as the photograph itself. Choose from two handcrafted float frames or a crystal-clear acrylic face mount.
Black Float Frame
A sleek, modern black float frame that suspends the print with a subtle reveal around all edges, giving the artwork a gallery-quality depth and presence.
Dark Brown Float Frame
A warm, natural wood float frame with rich grain and dark espresso tones. The floating mount brings dimension and an organic elegance to the piece.
Acrylic Mount
The photograph is face-mounted behind optically-clear museum-quality acrylic, creating extraordinary depth, luminosity, and a contemporary floating effect on the wall.
