Hi! I’m Marcus Westberg, a longtime Gorilla Highlands collaborator. I’m originally from Sweden, but work as a photojournalist all over the world — though Africa is where my heart is.
For the foreseeable future, I’ll be posting a mostly-weekly column focusing on some of my favorite images and experiences from the Gorilla Highlands region, usually accompanied by a bit of photographic advice and my thoughts about the image(s) I share, and about photography in general. Starting with a Grumpy Silverback…
As a photographer, creating a feeling of connection between your subject and whoever will look at your images later is always important. When photographing people, that’s quite straightforward: if you, the photographer, feel that connection, then it can often be picked up on by others, too. With wildlife it’s a little bit different: posture, eye contact and facial expressions all matter. Gorillas and chimpanzees do make it fairly easy for us sometimes though. Who, after a year of Covid, doesn’t know exactly how this silverback in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is feeling?
🖋️📸 written & photographed by:
Marcus Westberg is a multiple award-winning photographer and writer from Sweden whose work — covering conservation, wildlife and travel — appears regularly in several global publications. He has made several trips to our region specifically to volunteer for Gorilla Highlands Experts. When not globetrotting, Marcus lives with his wife and daughter close to Lisbon, Portugal. Click for our interview with Marcus. [bio updated: 2026-03-05]
Comments
4 responses to “Grumpy Silverback”
Very handsome grumpy :))
Hehe, indeed. 🙂
I remember this fellow! He’d made a fine nest for himself in some long grass (away from the boisterous children).
Yes, and he didn’t look that interested in receiving visitors – human or those kids of his. 🙂