Well., I can,t afford to go to a game park in Africa so I can go to one down the road from me. The animals there are about as used to vehicles as they are over there so it doesn't make a lot of difference.
This is hand held through glass as the nasty wardens won't let you open your windows, 'cos these animals are vicious.
I sold this shot recently for quite a sum and they didn't give a toss where it came from.
Its all a big farce really don't you think ?
I see this as no different from doing stuff at falconry centres etc
-or even bugs or newts in a tank- or butterflies recently released from cool boxes etc,etc.etc.
I have the exif some where but I am not sure its of much value.
Cheers
JR
Posted by Andy Astbury on July 21, 2012 at 4:35 AM
Big farce - damn right it is John - in truth the only people who get 'precious' about 'reality' are photographers! The image is always king, not the location; unless of course location is part of the image requirements.
If a client wants a shot of Grey Wolves in snow then he will pay no less for a shot done in a wintry wildlife park than he will for a shot done by tramping over the tundra for a week if it fits his requirements.
Cracking interplay between young and old John - bet you don't get many of these down Cramer Gutter ehh
Alot of Andy Rouse's shots of tigers in snow are captive animals running free with the tog. I don't mind zoo shots but hate going there myself, zoos and parks depress me. Recently took my daughter to a small place in the mountains of Bayerisches Wald where I watched a lynx walk up and down the fence in a daze for half an hour. He is still there now I bet. The badger too. I like the experience of taking the shot and being there, for me a zoo is not worth being there and I would rather wait until my next oversees trip (which tend to be less Africa oriented since my daughter turned up ;) )
As for this shot, I would rather not the post/stump be there but this could easily be the Mara
Posted by Nick Mckeown on July 21, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Superb shot JR but this would never pass for the Mara unless they have tar roads running through it which is what I asume the cubs tail is resting on. I have no problems at all with images taken in wild life parks, zoos, falconry centres etc so long as the animals are not being passed off as being in the wild but this happens quite a lot and I appreciate once the photographer has sold his image he has no say in how the publisher presents it. It is easy for me to sit in judgement on my high horse of course because I do not sell my images and I wonder how far my principles would stretch if offered a large sum......not very far I suspect!
Nick.
Posted by Neil Burton on July 21, 2012 at 11:56 AM
OK not the Mara but Kruger at least ;)
Posted by David Taylor on July 21, 2012 at 4:15 PM
At least your carbon footprint would be a fraction of that obtaining the photograph in the wild, John. Our planet needs all the help it can get to mitigate Humanity's excesses.
As a seasoned African campaigner and safari organizer I would personally not feel comfortable photographing lions in a captive situation although I do photograph captive falcons occasionally so it would be very wrong for me to criticise someone
who did. As for whether the location matters or not I guess it depends on your point of view and if you are trying to pass something off as being in the wild when it is not. The photographer knows the truth of the situation and if he or his client likes the image then I am happy for him especially if he makes a tidy profit
Maybe cash in one of your pensions John and join me in Ndutu next March
Discussion
8 repliesThis is hand held through glass as the nasty wardens won't let you open your windows, 'cos these animals are vicious.
I sold this shot recently for quite a sum and they didn't give a toss where it came from.
Its all a big farce really don't you think ?
I see this as no different from doing stuff at falconry centres etc
-or even bugs or newts in a tank- or butterflies recently released from cool boxes etc,etc.etc.
I have the exif some where but I am not sure its of much value.
Cheers
JR
If a client wants a shot of Grey Wolves in snow then he will pay no less for a shot done in a wintry wildlife park than he will for a shot done by tramping over the tundra for a week if it fits his requirements.
Cracking interplay between young and old John - bet you don't get many of these down Cramer Gutter ehh
As for this shot, I would rather not the post/stump be there but this could easily be the Mara
Nick.
An excellent study.
Great interaction between the two lions, JR
Andy...
who did.
Maybe cash in one of your pensions John and join me in Ndutu next March
Bob