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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> The Ethics of Wildlife Photography
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Showing posts 26 - 50 of 53, (reverse)
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 01/01/2009 05:53:17 PM · #26
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Originally posted by SteveJ:
Originally posted by fldave:
[quote=K10DGuy] Beyond a professional setting (submitting to actual publications etc.) I fail to understand the relevance of requiring a photographer to disclose the location of his photo. I honestly just don't see the need.
Exactly - If you are submitting to Natures Best Photography magazine (or other) and not disclosing that it a captive shot, that's one thing. I really don't understand why a DPC'er would be screaming "fraud" because a captive animal is entered in a wildlife challenge. I'm not going to go on an African safari just to shoot an entry... and a photo of a squirrel isn't likely going to do well against a tiger or lion.


But nobody mentioned DPC, it was a general question about Wildlife photography, whether National Geo or similar. DPC voters like a good photo, regardless of origins.


Interest yes! Not about DPC?? Try re-reading the whole thread.

Message edited by author 2009-01-01 17:54:50.
 01/01/2009 05:53:44 PM · #27
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
... we have a wildlife challenge and people go to the zoo... I can sympathize with those who feel this makes a mockery of the challenge. R.

SteveJ - this was what I was referring to.
 01/01/2009 06:11:07 PM · #28
Originally posted by fldave:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
... we have a wildlife challenge and people go to the zoo... I can sympathize with those who feel this makes a mockery of the challenge. R.

SteveJ - this was what I was referring to.


Let's just bear in mind that I'm not, personally, one of those who complains about zoo shots in a DPC wildlife challenge; I just can sympathize with those who do, I can understand where they are coming from.

R.
 01/01/2009 06:23:48 PM · #29
I agree you should not lie about where a shot was taken, so if a photo is going to be used to support a stroy about an african elephant in it's habitat it would only make sense the shot be from a natural wild habitat. But if a story is about the african elephant why should id matter where the elephant is as long as it truly represents the breed of elephant being talked about.

With that being said I would rather go on safari to Africa.
 01/01/2009 06:25:22 PM · #30
Thanks Bear. Didn't mean to imply that you were among those who may have complained. Sorry for the unintended implication.
 01/01/2009 06:30:11 PM · #31
If you're shooting for stock, I see no problem at all with being in a zoo. If I were an editor for a nature magazine and we were doing a story on Alaska's Kodiak bears, that picture better be from the wild unless I give approval otherwise or somebody's getting canned ;) To me it's about authenticity.

I once read a story in a travel magazine that was on Tulsa, OK and a businesswoman from the city was profiled. They talked about how she liked to mountain bike and had a photo of "her" riding a trail. Trouble was, the shot was a STOCK photo that I recognized. It pretty much completely destroyed that magazine's credibility for me.

As far as DPC goes, if the challenge is "Fauna" then zoo shots should be okay. If it's "Wildlife" then it should be WILDlife. Of course, the rules should specify that as well.
 01/01/2009 06:32:22 PM · #32
[quote]....African safari just to shoot an entry... and a photo of a squirrel isn't likely going to do well against a tiger or lion. [/quote]

*Ahem* sorry to burst your bubble, but in the last Wildlife challenge my little Red Squirrel, now my PB, was beaten out by many birds (including raptors), a lynx, and another squirrel...but this time, it sure beat the crap out of all entered tigers and lions.

Message edited by author 2009-01-01 18:33:36.
 01/01/2009 06:34:00 PM · #33
Originally posted by fldave:
...a squirrel isn't likely going to do well against a tiger or lion.

Unless it's one of a breed of genetically altered super-squirrels I have been working on here in my lab that I am amassing an army of in an effort to take over the world - both urban AND wild.

...oops, I've said too much.
 01/01/2009 06:36:30 PM · #34
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Originally posted by fldave:
...a squirrel isn't likely going to do well against a tiger or lion.

Unless it's one of a breed of genetically altered super-squirrels I have been working on here in my lab that I am amassing an army of in an effort to take over the world - both urban AND wild.

...oops, I've said too much.


ART! Shhhhhh!!!!
 01/01/2009 06:41:39 PM · #35
Originally posted by snaffles:
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
[quote=fldave]...a squirrel isn't likely going to do well against a tiger or lion.

Unless it's one of a breed of genetically altered super-squirrels I have been working on here in my lab that I am amassing an army of in an effort to take over the world - both urban AND wild.

...oops, I've said too much.


But will they photogragh like natural squirrels? That's the heart of the matter...
 01/01/2009 06:47:31 PM · #36
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Originally posted by fldave:
...a squirrel isn't likely going to do well against a tiger or lion.

Unless it's one of a breed of genetically altered super-squirrels I have been working on here in my lab that I am amassing an army of in an effort to take over the world - both urban AND wild.

...oops, I've said too much.


Would this be one of them?

01/01/2009 06:49:40 PM · #37
Originally posted by chip_k:
If you're shooting for stock, I see no problem at all with being in a zoo. If I were an editor for a nature magazine and we were doing a story on Alaska's Kodiak bears, that picture better be from the wild unless I give approval otherwise or somebody's getting canned ;) To me it's about authenticity.

I once read a story in a travel magazine that was on Tulsa, OK and a businesswoman from the city was profiled. They talked about how she liked to mountain bike and had a photo of "her" riding a trail. Trouble was, the shot was a STOCK photo that I recognized. It pretty much completely destroyed that magazine's credibility for me.

As far as DPC goes, if the challenge is "Fauna" then zoo shots should be okay. If it's "Wildlife" then it should be WILDlife. Of course, the rules should specify that as well.


I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.
 01/01/2009 06:51:05 PM · #38
Spies among us. Must speak in gibberish code from now on.
---------------------------------------------------------

On topic: I think... ...actually I have no opinion on this topic. Carry on. I shall interrupt the subject no more.
 01/01/2009 06:53:47 PM · #39
I don't much care where other people take their wildlife shots, but if I'm taking one I want the subject to be completely free to go far away from me at any moment. I like the challenge ;-)
 01/01/2009 06:55:44 PM · #40
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.


Most zoo animals are still wild. But they aren't IN the wild.

Message edited by author 2009-01-01 18:56:04.
 01/01/2009 07:02:39 PM · #41
Heck, I even feel guilty about calling my photos of elk in Rocky Mountain National Park "wildlife" shots because there are so many elk in the park and Estes Park certain times of the year it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
 01/01/2009 07:26:35 PM · #42
Originally posted by chip_k:
Heck, I even feel guilty about calling my photos of elk in Rocky Mountain National Park "wildlife" shots because there are so many elk in the park and Estes Park certain times of the year it's like shooting fish in a barrel.


That's why I headed up that way, on last wildlife challenge.
 01/01/2009 07:31:20 PM · #43
Originally posted by chip_k:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.


Most zoo animals are still wild. But they aren't IN the wild.


So they are wildlife then.

Message edited by author 2009-01-01 19:32:59.
 01/01/2009 07:32:52 PM · #44
Nature photography is one of my favorite areas so thought I would throw in my two cents.

I believe there is room for captive, semi-captive and baited shots depending on the assignment and what the photographer is trying to show. However, as said here already it is important to disclose the facts of the shot and not misrepresent it.

In the end I do what I do because I love getting out in nature, learning about the animal, anticipating it's behavior and eventually having the satisfaction of getting that one shot. Depicting the behavior of free roaming wildlife is then reward.

As for DPC Wildlife challenges I don't have anything against people taking shots of zoo animals but I do have to admit that when I think of the work I put into my shot vs. the work I put into a zoo shot it can get frustrating looking at the scores.
 01/01/2009 07:36:18 PM · #45
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by chip_k:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.


Most zoo animals are still wild. But they aren't IN the wild.


So they are wildlife then.


That is not the real question. The animal is not in it's natural environment. The lion is not hunting the gazelle in it's enclosure. The zoo photographer is thus not really seeing the animal acting natually nor are they depicitng that natural environment. What they will likley get is a great portrait of the animal.

Message edited by author 2009-01-01 19:39:34.
 01/01/2009 08:11:59 PM · #46
Originally posted by jbsmithana:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by chip_k:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.


Most zoo animals are still wild. But they aren't IN the wild.


So they are wildlife then.


That is not the real question. The animal is not in it's natural environment. The lion is not hunting the gazelle in it's enclosure. The zoo photographer is thus not really seeing the animal acting natually nor are they depicitng that natural environment. What they will likley get is a great portrait of the animal.


thats why i bring the gazella with me. throw them over then fence when no one's watching
 01/01/2009 08:40:57 PM · #47
Originally posted by jbsmithana:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by chip_k:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.


Most zoo animals are still wild. But they aren't IN the wild.


So they are wildlife then.


That is not the real question. The animal is not in it's natural environment. The lion is not hunting the gazelle in it's enclosure. The zoo photographer is thus not really seeing the animal acting natually nor are they depicitng that natural environment. What they will likley get is a great portrait of the animal.


It all depends on the intent of the image. If the story is about the natural habitat then a zoo shot is not appropriate. If the story is about the animal then a zoo shot could fit the bill. It just depends on the context.
 01/01/2009 09:18:43 PM · #48
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Let's just bear in mind that I'm not, personally, one of those who complains about zoo shots in a DPC wildlife challenge; I just can sympathize with those who do, I can understand where they are coming from.

R.

The vocabulary police humbly suggest that perhaps empathize would convey your meaning better than sympathize, which connotes a shared feeling, rather than one which is merely understood.
 01/01/2009 09:20:21 PM · #49
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by chip_k:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I dare you to find a captive lion that isn't wild.


Most zoo animals are still wild. But they aren't IN the wild.


So they are wildlife then.


Okay, so we should call it a "Wildlife In The Wild" contest. Now, I'm going to prep my entry for the "Small Missiles That Are launched Into The Sky That Explode And Create Interesting Shapes And Colors For The Amusement Of Human Beings (Usually On Holidays Like The Fourth Of July, New Years and Memorial Day)" contest.

:) :) :) :) :)
 01/01/2009 09:27:11 PM · #50
how come people find it necessary to revive this type of thread ever few weeks. do we get bored and feel like starting fires and burning villages or what?
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