This is kind of fun but I’m not sure the world can handle full disclosure and that again is ulitmately why we end up with shaded truth.

Great article. I think one thing that’s hard to convey is just how HARD it is to get really high quality images of truly wild animals. As one who’s tried, and talked to a lot of Wildlife Conservation Society folks trying to camera trap animals in Sumatra, I have to say I have an intense degree of admiration for the amount of work that went into your tiger shot.

One of the points I always like to hammer home is that in many genres of photography, your creative and technical mastery of the camera is just one small part of getting a good image. It’s like the tip of the iceberg – the final moment when you judge exposure, compose, and click. Beneath the water is a months-long or year-long process of planning, obtaining visas and permits from police/home affairs/parks departments, arranging local relationships/partnerships/guides, then international travel, slow and painful local travel, sometimes miserable conditions of heat/cold/bugs/wetness, then finding the spots, then waiting/waiting/waiting, failing, looking somewhere else, waiting/waiting, and finally … OPPORTUNITY.

It’s only then that your creative and technical mastery comes into play. Most people simple do NOT have the amount of determination to get the image that it takes to get through all the other stuff.

That brings us back to the wolf image. That’s why that image was so impressive to fellow photographers and judges – not just because it’s a nice image but because people understand just how much went into making it.

And ultimately, that’s what is disappointing – that, actually, so much didn’t go in to making.

Because it’s so hard to do it for real, there is an incredible temptation for wildlife photographers to blur the lines, shoot semi-tame or captive animals, and gloss over it. I think your point about maintaining absolutely clear boundaries and up front disclosure is right on.

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On another note, I appreciate your disclosure about the dog-as-bait. I know that was a long time ago. I see some sharp comment above. But I think that just drives the point home. Others may not like how you got the shot, but they should KNOW how you got it. It would be easier for you not to mention it, and no one would know the difference. To be up front about it is both courageous and the RIGHT thing to do.

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Great to have you on Photocrati!

Erick

The Wolf capture is still an excellent capture, but lying to the editor of one of the biggest magazines of all times isn’t smart. No money can buy back one’s credibility.

Cheers! Peter