06 Jul 2026

From abandoned homesteads and flourishing flowers to fascinating wildlife and breathtaking sunsets, Olerato Tshosa’s Captured by Olee Photography offers extraordinary glimpses into Botswana’s natural world.

While the budding photographer could have pursued the more commercial forms of photography commonly practised in Botswana, her profound love for nature proved irresistible, ultimately drawing her into the world of nature photography. For her, Captured by Olee was built on the belief that Botswana’s beauty deserves to be celebrated, displayed and appreciated.

Now, after two years of exploring the outdoors with her trusted Canon 700D always by her side, a keen eye for detail, endless patience and an instinct for spotting beauty in the ordinary, the 25-year-old photographer has made it her mission to showcase Botswana’s breathtaking natural heritage through her lens.

“Many people travel far to admire landscapes, wildlife, flowers and sunsets, but I found myself captivated by the beauty that already exists around us in Botswana. I wanted to preserve those moments and share them with others,” Tshosa said in an interview.

Behind every striking photograph, however, lies a lesson in patience. 

From chasing the perfect sunrise or sunset to waiting for butterflies to settle and documenting the intricate details of Botswana’s mophane caterpillars, Tshosa has discovered that the natural world reveals its beauty only to those prepared to slow down and observe.

One photograph that perfectly illustrates this patience is her favourite, an awe-inspiring image of Botswana’s beloved mophane caterpillar. Capturing the tiny creature required more than a quick press of the shutter, particularly as the photograph had not been planned.

“I had spotted a few on the ground and decided to photograph one, but it kept moving, so I had to patiently wait for the right moment,” she said. “It is a special image to me because it marked the beginning of my journey as a nature photographer and reminded me that some of the best moments happen unexpectedly.”

Yet capturing the beauty of the natural world is not without its challenges. Early in her career, Tshosa discovered that she had chosen a path less travelled and one that remains relatively unpopular among consumers.

“In Botswana, nature photography is often not taken seriously as an art form. Many people prefer portraits, events or commercial photography, but fewer see nature photography as something worthy of hanging in their homes or investing in,” she said.

As a result, building Captured by Olee has required patience, faith and a willingness to believe in a vision before others fully see it.

Nonetheless, Tshosa is showing no signs of slowing down. Recently, the young photographer expanded her work into botanical art, this time creating works by hand rather than through a lens, while still remaining true to where her passion lies: nature.

For Tshosa, nature photography is about far more than taking beautiful pictures.

“It is storytelling. It is preserving moments that will never exist in exactly the same way again. It is drawing attention to the details we often rush past, a flower blooming, sunlight touching a landscape, or the intricate patterns found in creation,”  she said. ENDS