Life in your Hands

**Mad Aussie** · 03-14-2009, 12:33 AM

I'm curious as to what people think about intervention in nature in regards to a photographer.

We've all seen those terribly graphic shots of a lion killing a zebra.

Not many of us are likely to be a situation where we are torn between snapping away to get that 'nature in action' photo or to rush in, punch Mr Grisly Bear in the face and save that poor Salmon.

I would think in situation like those our own survival instinct would prevail so that Mr Grisly does indeed have fish fingers for dinner instead of human entrails.

But what about something a bit more tangible and a bit more likely to happen in front of you?

Lets say something like a butterfly caught in a web. Or a dragonfly drowning in a pond?

Do you reach out and save the poor creature or do you let it die as you record it's death on your memory card?

What if it was not an insect but a small animal like a squirrel trying to climb out of a ditch but it keeps falling back into the water. Slowly it gets more and more tired and you know that it will soon give up and sink below the surface?

Some graphic shots are staring you in the face. But a creatures eyes and light are fading. What do you do? What DO YOU do?

**jjeling** · 03-14-2009, 01:35 AM

I usually leave things as they are. I like to remain as distant from the scene as possible to capture the events as they would without my presence. Admittedly though, sometimes I have manipulated nature in order to get my desired shot. Specifically with snakes. Generally, snakes will move away from you when your around. The only way Ive known to battle this is to control the snake itself, while in its environment. The snake will normally sit still and keep an eye on me, leaving me enough time to take several shots before he moves, and then Ill grab it and move it again. I do not intentionally feed animals to draw them in or go to the zoo to take images either. Anything wildlife photography I capture is always as I see it in the wild(with the exception of snakes). As much as I would like to feed birds to draw them near also nears the ethics borderline as well. I prefer to catch animals in their native habitat, not next to a feeder, or behind a piece of glass. Im not saying I make ethical decisions 100% of the time, but that is generally the case.

**Mad Aussie** · 03-14-2009, 01:44 AM

So would you save the Squirrel JJ? Or let it die and get the shot? I guess most of us would try to do both but if that weren't possible ....

**jjeling** · 03-14-2009, 11:06 AM

I would personally let the squirrel die and get the shot. There are so many of them here they are actually considered pests to a certain degree. Sounds a bit crazy, but Ive actually eaten them before. They are considered a good treat to a lot of people here, but you have to eat the ones from the woods and not the squirrels eating crap from the city. Ive shot many a squirrel with a .22. Ive caught and eaten many a fish. Animals dieing is just a part of life. As bad as I feel for the animal losing its life, I feel just as glad he does not have to be here. You wouldn't know what the sun was if it weren't for the night. The whole Ying and the Yang theory. So really to answer your question, I would probably take a few pictures, watch the squirrel die, take a couple more pictures, then eat it it! HAHAHA

**F8&Bthere** · 03-14-2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Mad Aussie

...punch Mr Grisly Bear in the face and save that poor Salmon...

That line made me chuckle, thanks!

Luckily I don't get out enough to find myself in these ethically challenging situations. But I'm pretty sure my inclination would be to save the drowning squirrel. Now as for punching Mr. Grizzly or saving the half eaten zebra... my chunky little butt would be wiggling pretty fast in the other direction if I even saw either scene from 300m away (after a few quick shots, of course).

Mad Aussie, are you always this deep and philosophical? Lots of thought provoking threads lately! Lots of fun!

**tirediron** · 03-14-2009, 01:28 PM

Ooohh... tough moral question. My answer is, "It depends". If Mr. Squirrel's danger was man-made, then I would forgo the shot to save him. If it was "natural danger", then I would leave things be. Oh, and MA, I'm not sure how evolution played out down under, but here in North America, fish don't have fingers!

**Gem** · 03-14-2009, 01:41 PM

I've never been in a situation like that so I can't say for sure. I would like to think that I wouldn't interfere with nature but mostly likely, I'd try to have the best of both worlds. That is, hurriedly snap off a few pics and then try to help the poor thing (referring to the squirrel scenario). For something like butterflies and dragonflies, I probably wouldn't help. They're bugs, and I wouldn't particularly care (as bad as that might sound). Lol, and I DEFINITELY wouldn't get inbetween a lion/bear and zebra/salmon.

(without the cigarette of course.

)

**Mad Aussie** · 03-14-2009, 03:01 PM

Interesting answers so far.

JJ ... I didn't know rednecks lived so far north!!

Originally Posted by tirediron

Oh, and MA, I'm not sure how evolution played out down under, but here in North America, fish don't have fingers!

Originally Posted by F8&Bthere

Mad Aussie, are you always this deep and philosophical? Lots of thought provoking threads lately! Lots of fun!

Well I've teased and amused everyone apparently so I thought I'd pretend to be smart for a few moments here and there too.

**kiley9806** · 03-14-2009, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mad Aussie

Or a dragonfly drowning in a pond?

Do you reach out and save the poor creature or do you let it die as you record it's death on your memory card?

this exact thing happened to me!! we were camping at a small lake, and one evening the dragonflys were totally "twitterpated", diving and chasing and generally acting totally frantic, until they attached to another dragonfly. many ended up diving into the water, and getting stuck. most were out of my reach, but one fella was somewhat close to the shore, so i put my cam down, got a long long stick, waded a bit, and after about 10 mins of his stressfully beating his wings in desperation, i scooped him out. i left him on the stick and proceeded to take pictures (what else could i do? mouth to mouth was not an option). you can tell in the pics that he damaged his wings quite badly. he fluttered and sputtered, but never moved. i think he may have broken his back. he eventually died that night, as we found him lifeless the next morning, but i tried my best... im an animal lover. if it were a baby cougar, i probably wouldve done the same thing.