Safari Ethics: When Wildlife Photography Goes Too Far. The safari Shots Podcast S02E06

Comments · 67

• HA

  @hamishrodgers8109 · 6 months ago

  Ethical Guides are out there as are the “ tip chasers “ who will cross almost any boundary to the detriment of the animal and even the clients potential safety . After retiring as a guide after 38 years I can honestly say that the “ boundaries “ I pushed when I started were much more firmly set at the end of my career . An experienced , well trained and confident guide should never be pressured to cross the line where the animal is over stressed or its natural behaviour is disrupted . My ten sents wirth

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• HO

  @horse_energy_bronkhorstspruit · 5 months ago

  This was a great discussion and it needs to be an on going conversation

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• MI

  @michaelfleetwood620 · 6 months ago

  Well done gentlemen! In a time where there are so many armchair expert guides, your wealth of experience and diversity in those experiences is extremely useful to the conversation

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• AL

  @alejandrobarrallo3209 · 6 months ago

  I am glad that you have brought up this issue in your channel, as I would love to go on &nbsp;a safari in África in the near future. Here are my 10 (or more) cents on it. <br>I am a biologist and then a wildlife photographer. I grew up watching wildlife documentaries on Spanish TV, that later we learned they were completely rigged,as &nbsp;they used a pack of tamed wolves and eagles for their most iconic shots. I took up photography as a hobby from my father, and in my younger years I did a lot of mountain photography. <br>Now that my knees do not allow me to climb any more, I started photographing birds in a wetlands natural reserve next to the city, with public hides and screens. Then I looked for other opportunities and I used comercial hides for small birds, that used feeders. In this case, I did not consider it an issue, as the hide was not used every day, and in winter, the small ones need a bit extra. Then, bigger birds. I took a workshop on photographing raptors, and they used dead rabbits and live doves as bait. I got amazing shots, but I had some discussion with the workshop leader about how often they did it and how used the birds get to be easily fed. In fact, one of the companies that I have used have as a motto &quot;Wildlife photography is a conservation tool&quot;, that may be true in some extent and context. <br>My wife happens to be from Colombia and I have been there a number of times, where bird photography is very active due to their great diversity. And there I have had a wide range of experiences with different companies and guides. From the respectful ones to using calls to lure them out of the forest, massive hummingbird feeders, not to mention the ones where a guy hangs a piece of fruit on a stick to make the bird pose for a dozen or more photographers in front of carefully chosen background. <br>Most of these trips I have been on my own with a guide. The only time a took a group photographing trip (to a small island off the coast in Ireland) I was deeply disappointed, as the majority of my companions with their very expensive equipment (more than mine) expected to have the birds waiting for them. So I felt uneasy. <br>I have watched as all of you those images of safari traffic jams in África, all the cars loaded with tourists waiting for some predator to get up from the ground or down from a tree and I wondered how I would feel in that situation after paying a hefty amount of money, probably on a once in a lifetime chance. <br>From all my past experiences in wildlife photography, the ones I enjoyed the most are when I was just walking in nature, waiting for wildlife to reveal itself or patiently stalking. Picture would be not the best, but I will be happier.

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• ST

  @stubones · 6 months ago

  I think its a fine balance. Wildlife preservation requires public interest and financing, but at what expense to animals and their natural behaviour...

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• BR

  @brendonjennings3934 · 6 months ago

  The Tswalu/Zimanga dogs were awesome

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• TO

  @ToyaHeatley · 6 months ago

  Ethical photography of any kind is important to safety of the subjects we are photographing. In nature if we want it to be there for generations beyond us, we need to educate about the ethics and the reasons for them now. &nbsp;Well done guys, great podcast!

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• FR

  @frankarnold5856 · 6 months ago (edited)

  The ethical line is crossed when, as a photographer/tourist, I overstep the role of observer and thereby provoke a reaction from the animal. This applies not only to photographers but to every tourist who (as unfortunately happened recently in Sri Lanka) holds their smartphone up to the face of a sea turtle coming ashore to lay its eggs. Most are so surprised by the situation and can only think about taking the photo to post in their vacation video.<br><br>It&apos;s simply this superficiality that completely lacks any respect for the animal.<br><br>But aren&apos;t we photographers part of the problem?<br><br>YouTube videos often show how to take the biggest photos, right?!<br><br>You&apos;ve got a really tough issue here!!

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• DR

  @drstavroseleftheriou1722 · 6 months ago

  Ethical approach to wildlife photography has been in the news several times in the last few years, mainly because of uninformed and stupid tourists/visitors or incompetent/unethical guides.

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• KR

  @krugeradventures · 6 months ago

  Really interesting discussion. The pressure to please—either guests or ourselves when self-driving—can make that ethical line quite thin at times. In the end it comes down to the individual. Most people respect the rules, but a few will always push them. For me, wildlife (should) always comes first.

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• PA

  @Paul_Richmond · 6 months ago

  Very thought provoking discussion guys. There will always be grey areas but the wildlife comes first. Just because you have $$$$ doesn&apos;t mean you can do what you want. As in many things, education is the key - keep up the good work.

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• CH

  @chrislonie4838 · 6 months ago

  I think where it goes too far is when everyone with a smart phone expects to get a good picture. I believe guides drive to accommodate that and get too close.

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