I spent an enjoyable few hours at the zoo with @taffy, we both have new long zoom lenses that we want to have more experience with. This was taken in the ape house, it makes me feel great sadness as I look at his expression.
Oh, this tugs at the heartstrings so hard, His expression is so poignant. It was a great afternoon. I wish the zebras had stayed longer, but like what we got from the lions and apes, even the flamingos. Can't wait for the next photowalk!
This moved me to some moments of sadness. Fav. I loved zoos until being able to read the animals expressions and behavior made it too sad. At a zoo, I walk past the enclosures where the apes are too close, unless they're playing or otherwise engaged in an activity.
I never understand why people's reactions to photos of gorillas always imply a sadness on the part of the gorilla and a disdain for zoos. In a perfect world all animals would be in the wild safe and sound - but the world is not perfect and sadly many species are critically endangered....gorillas being just one of them. Zoos around the world are trying to preserve the species through their captive breeding programs. Most, if not all, gorillas in zoos were born/bred in captivity and are loved and well cared for - they have not been ripped from the wild and shoved in a cage. If they had not been bred they wouldn't exist and we would not have an insurance population if the worst does happen. This beautiful gorilla is only sad by your presumptions - he/she may be thinking lovingly of her offspring or pondering how quickly they grow - if any one of us were photographed unawares a range of emotions could be presumed incorrectly - in a perfect world animals would be free and we wouldn't be shooting each other - but it isn't a perfect world.
@annied well said Annie, I didnt perceive sadness but i did have a big response to the photo, i think its the 'humanity' , the intelligence on the face of the gorilla that i was impressed by. , deeply fascinating
@kali66 I had a response too - it was more like yours - the wise humanity and thoughtfulness - when I go to the zoo I sit and watch the gorillas for a long time if they are out and about
@annied@kali66 I fully agree with both of you, and was probably misleading in my initial commentary. I was struggling to come up with a title for the shot and went with the obvious even though I did not feel the emotion of sadness when I took the shot. The Regenstein Center for Apes at Lincoln Park Zoo (a free zoo) in the city of Chicago is one of the best in the US, and they are well known for their research of apes both in captivity and in the wild. It is my favorite exhibit in the zoo, probably because they are animals that show emotion that we understand. Annie you are quite correct, in the presumption of expression, we see what we want to see, but not always the whole picture! Thank you for both for commenting on the shot with such thoughtful commentary!
@pistache@taffy thanks for the heads up on TT, I am quite surprised as i am not a very good community member these days. Please take the time to read @annied commentary above, I think she has some very valid points.
@annied -- I so appreciate your comments here, but even more, our photowalk together to the zoo. You know it was my first zoo visit in about 30 years, but now, I'm inspired by our time together and some day I will return to another zoo. @ukandie1 and @taffy -- I'd love to join you on a zoo outing some day as I now own a zoomy 100-400, too!
@ukandie1 -- I'm gone for a month, home for a few days before Christmas, gone for a week again, and in and out in January. When are you thinking of going?
@jyokota@taffy I am free(ish) most days. Hopefully we can figure something that will suit all of our schedules. Jan would be better for me, but if it is before Xmas will find a way of making it work.
@annied My instant reaction was one of sadness but I don't have a disdain for zoos. The photo is beautiful but the dark b&w processing also gives a sombre vibe, which adds to the melancholy gaze. I am also a bit sad that I felt like I had to justify my initial response.
very great protrait
I never understand why people's reactions to photos of gorillas always imply a sadness on the part of the gorilla and a disdain for zoos. In a perfect world all animals would be in the wild safe and sound - but the world is not perfect and sadly many species are critically endangered....gorillas being just one of them. Zoos around the world are trying to preserve the species through their captive breeding programs. Most, if not all, gorillas in zoos were born/bred in captivity and are loved and well cared for - they have not been ripped from the wild and shoved in a cage. If they had not been bred they wouldn't exist and we would not have an insurance population if the worst does happen. This beautiful gorilla is only sad by your presumptions - he/she may be thinking lovingly of her offspring or pondering how quickly they grow - if any one of us were photographed unawares a range of emotions could be presumed incorrectly - in a perfect world animals would be free and we wouldn't be shooting each other - but it isn't a perfect world.