The silhouetted figure in this image is Canon Ambassador Pie Aerts' friend Albert Odar, a former poacher who became a ranger at Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. Tragically, Albert passed away in April 2020, making the picture even more poignant. "Albert's transition from poacher to ranger is a story of hope, courage and fear. It's about being responsible for the course of your own life and the planet," says Pie. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens at 1/160 sec, f/1.6 and ISO1000. © Pie Aerts
The Dutchman's path to becoming a full-time professional photographer, however, was anything but conventional. Born in Maastricht in the Netherlands, Pie's early ambitions lay in the hospitality industry. After completing degrees in hotel management, he set about climbing the corporate ladder, working for one of the country's largest food retailers. "I was making good money and my career was moving fast," he says. "I was in the middle of the rat race."