Photographers very generously provide images at no cost, as The Big Issue is a non-profit organisation.

Adrian Steirn

This year we were lucky enough to get Adrian Steirn’s images about the campaign to save the pangolin. Currently the most trafficked animal in Africa and Asia, this inoffensive little mammal is staring down the barrel of a gun. But there are some inspiring, creative initiatives to save them including the Tikky Hywood Trust in Zimbabwe, where Steirn took his pictures.

Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards

Then, they have images from the international Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards. This feature contains images of owls examining the photographer, a red fox face-diving into the snow in search of dinner, a squirrel conducting, and a cheetah facing down a speed limit sign.

Over and above these two features, there are contributions from a wide range of photographers, such as Ruvan Boshoff’s wizardy image from the Afrika Burn event, Masixole Feni’s images of seeking fulfillment and moments of joy in Mfuleni, Deborah Rossouw’s images of dance and urban life, Fiona McCosh’s image from her “Sober and Sexy!” calendar, Ralph Ndawo’s historical image of a picnic in Soweto, and ending off with “Into the big blue” to keep that holiday feeling floating along.

The Big Issue #249 is on sale from vendors in Cape Town from 5 January to 17 February. Anyone outside of Cape Town can buy the magazine here.

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