The Sacrifice
I sometimes wonder why I do certain things. Like, why do we spend so much time in the field just to capture images of wildlife? Why am I a wildlife and conservation photographer? A vocation with so much uncertainty, much like sightings in the field. From a pure commercial angle, if this was a start-up, it would be like creating yet another bottled water in an oversaturated market. The difference? This is art.
I am writing this from my houseboat, deep in the jungles of Borneo at 5.21am on a misty and surprisingly cool morning. My guide was informed early this morning that there was some orangutan callings further down stream, so we set off a little earlier.
It is a tough environment out here for photographers and photography. The humidity is relentless, it rains whenever it feels like and do not get me started on the mosquitos. I still have about 17 bite marks from my first day. The forest is so dense that even when you do spot an orangutan, there’s a maze of distractions in the way. If you are in deep in the jungle with cloud cover, the light is low and your camera is crying with those ISO levels. And then there’s the boat that you shoot from on occasion, battling major stability issues. It’s hard work, no question about it.
So whenever I post or you see some of my orangutan photos, or any other photographer’s work, bear this mind. ;)
One of the rangers informed us as we docked that a young male had been hanging around the ranger camp looking for food and trying his luck. Within a few minutes we were booted up, gear ready and drowning in mosquito repellent. It didn’t take us long to find him - orangutans are not very subtle. He stared us for a little while, then started jumping from branch to branch, pouting in our direction, almost as if he was showing off. He was very playful and his eyes tell us there is a mischievous side to him. Eventually he came closer, as he saw one of the guides eating some fruit, in the hope he can snatch it. He came within a couple of metres of us and at that point we sat down on the ground, indicating to him that we are friends and mean no harm - although I am certain he already knew that. This particular male has spent his entire 12 years of his life in the vicinity of humans. He is probably also thinking: “These taller, hairless, clothed species seem similar to us - I am just better at climbing trees and doing yoga.”
I think I took some great shots in the 15-20 minutes we spent with him, which felt like an hour. My adrenaline levels were high, my eyes were wide in awe as I observed this human-like creature. All the while, I was sweating furiously, covered in mud, mosquitoes are swarming me and eating me alive.
All this sacrifice to capture that money shot? Something that requires so much time and patience, and occasionally taking potential life threatening risks. Surely I must be crazy. What’s the point in sacrificing so much of myself? Why put myself in these situations?
As simple (and cliche) as this - for the love of art, the duty of conservation and fulfilling the purpose. My Ikigai. I am living my life.
