Like this vervet monkey mom, all parents strive to protect and nurture their babies, and work to sustain their healthy growth. And this vervet mom, like so many parents, knows that the world can be a hostile place, even for babies. As this new year begins, hostility does not seem to be in retreat.

The first photo challenge of 2018, with the theme Growth, invites us to “evoke the excitement of entering a new year with a photo that shows growth”. This photo shows growth, or at least the potential for growth. Would that more of us across the globe could enter this new year with excitement rather than trepidation.

I took this photo in our garden in South Africa. Sadly, monkeys are persecuted by many, including gardeners. I don’t usually use special editing effects, but in this case the use of monochrome and a touch of a water painting effect adds, I think, to the poignancy of the image.

Posted by Carol

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