Projects

Portraits of prize Malagasy fighting cockerels photographed across the landscapes of Madagascar, from rice paddies and hay fields to mountain tops and volcanic rocks. Each bird is placed within a grand natural backdrop, elevating a small creature into a monument of courage, resilience and heroism.

Portraits of indigenous Xhosa cattle photographed on the beaches of the Wild Coast over ten years, set against the historical backdrop of Nongqawuse's 1856 prophecy. Each image balances landscape, light and the individual temperament of the animal to capture a moment of mutual recognition between viewer and subject.

A collaboration between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and photographer Daniel Naudé, documenting the magnificent Ankole cattle, originating in Uganda and now flourishing in South Africa. Ramaphosa reflects on his father's lost herd in Venda, and the personal legacy that drives his passion for these remarkable cattle.

Live pigeons photographed within intricately constructed dioramas, built from hand-painted backdrops, crystals, fluorite, sand and natural objects collected in the Karoo. Each tableau was carefully staged over months, with Naudé waiting for the animal to settle into a moment of poetic stillness within the constructed scene.

Portraits of Bowerbird constructions found in the Tablelands and Rainforests of Australia, exploring the intricate arrangements of natural and man-made objects these birds curate to attract a mate. Each image reveals a sculptural, purposeful creation that mirrors humanity's own instinct to collect and design.

Portraits of sacred cattle across Uganda, Madagascar and India, exploring the deep cultural, spiritual and ancestral roles these animals play in the Bahima, Bara and Hindu communities. Photographed in natural light within descriptive landscapes, each image captures a sculptural presence that heightens the animal's revered status.

A collection of 50 photographs bringing together portraits of Africanis dogs, Nguni and Merino cattle, sheep, donkeys and other animals across the South African landscape, exploring the layered and complex relationships between people, animals, cultural history, and the rugged land they have long inhabited and shaped together.

Naudé's portraits of the Africanis, one of the few remaining natural dog breeds in the world, found across the rural Karoo and Transkei. Descended from dogs in Egyptian murals, these animals embody a paradoxical stillness achieved through an intense, trust-based encounter between photographer and subject.