I found this video from Art Wolfe quite entertaining because I think many wildlife photographers can relate to the wonderful experience it is to be so accepted into an animal’s space. (Although this probably shows acceptance more than he expected! 🙂 ) Thanks to Jim Goldstein for pointing it out! I think it is quite obvious they are doing nothing here to threaten or stress the animals, which is always a topic that comes up it seems when photographers are approaching wildlife. Every situation has to be evaluated with common sense. It really bugs me when people try to mandate separation between humans and other animals. Clearly fun can be had by both species.
Twenty-Twenty Five
Yearly favorites were harder to choose this past year simply because there weren't many exposures overall. I imagine that's an inherent problem with these yearly favorites posts. It emphasizes product over process in a culture that demands constant output. It can...
I was immediately reminded of an image in last year’s wildlife photographer of the year book, except it was no seal that emerges from the water!!
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/photo.do?photo=2305&category=7&group=1
Art’s whole “fashion shoot” play at the end had me rolling with laughter! Thanks for sharing (both you and Jim…)
What a heart-warming encounter! 🙂
Great video Mark! Thanks for sharing this. I would love to show this to anyone who ever suggested that close-up nature and wildlife photography involves harassing the subject. This shows it doesn’t have to be that way.
Great Video Mark thanks for sharing 🙂
I have made the observation that some people do have a true affinity to wild animals i.e. attract them more than they want sometimes…
My partner and I seem to belong to these people and this is sometimes more than scary:
one day we made a picnic in the bavarian mountains and were suddenly surrounded by a whole herd of “wild horses” – the farmers let them run free during the summer months – and although I love horses – this was truely a bit too much. They started to investigate not only our lunch but all of our luggage as well (all the motorbiking stuff such as helmets, leather gear etc.). When we saved our things at one side another of those horses started to “steal” the rest of our gear. One of the horses got one of my boots in his mouth and was going to throw it into the sea (a bright red boot – imagine that picture!) – it took me all my courage to grab him by his mane and pull my boot out of his mouth again.
After we saved our gear we managed somehow to chase them away and laughed hard after the adventure. Don’t ask me how our gear looked afterwards – everything was completely drooled – yuck.
I have a whole lot of these stories – most of them quite funny. For any strange reason we seem to be quite attractive for all sorts of animals – whatever that might mean…
I wish some of the wildlife in my area would love me 1/2 this much. That these beautiful animals would come closer rather than flee – amazing.
Hey Mark, great video. I love it. Wish I was there.
Keep up the great blog.
Gale
I am glad everyone enjoyed this, I needed a little pick-me-up and this video did a good job.
Chris, thanks for your comments. I’ll be sure to stop by.
Petra, thanks – she will definitely be missed.
Hi Mark, this video is so funny – thanks for sharing this.
Sorry to hear about your cat – it is always so sad to lose a pet – I lost mine nearly 20 years ago – yes – and I still miss him. I know this is crazy but sometimes you just feel you cannot replace him by another. I never did.
I got quite a laugh from this video. Thank you for sharing.
Tom
Hi Mark,
First off, loved the video. Your entire blog rocks really – great text accompanied by great photographs, I always enjoy stopping by and seeing what you’ve posted.
I doubt you’ve heard of me much but I’m a long time fan – used to be on NPN a bit. Anyways, I’ve started a blog as well and would love to hear your opinions on it now as well as on posts in the future.
You can find it here …
http://www.chriskaylerphotography.com/blog
Thanks a bunch, hope to hear from you.
*ROFLMAO* Gads, that was hysterical! Thanks for the laugh–I needed it. 🙂
What fun – thanks for sharing.
I agree about the separation; while you have to strike a balance, the direct interaction with animals is what plants the seeds of appreciation in the next generation of nature lovers. Too hands-off and we only interest scientists.