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© Natalie Manuel
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Havah 4 years ago
Amazing!
The expression of the gorilla breaks my heart!
Jan Piller 4 years ago
Beautiful light and detail Natalie!!
Natalie Manuel  Thank you :)
Massimo Camocardi 4 years ago
ECCELLENTE!!!!!
Judy W 4 years ago
Fabulous lighting!
Natalie Manuel  Thank you :)
Everytime I view pictures like this it makes me a little sad. They express such human expressions. Do you have a view point on caged animals? I've never really pondered the question before but after viewing several zoo images (beautifully captured) I think there must be deeper questions that the photograher is trying to express and answer.
I mean no disrespect, just curious. Thank you! Angela
Natalie Manuel  Hi Angela,

My main point in all animal photos is to highlight individuality. That
there is no such thing as "just another Tiger", they are all individual
portraits JUST like human portraits.

I'm not against Zoos in theory, but am against zoos keeping certain animals
in captivity that just aren't suited - such as elephants. Unfortunately as most of these species are being killed constantly in the wild, zoos may end up our only way to save them from extinction.

It is a difficult question, and of course the "ideal" would be to have no
animals in zoos. I just don't know if the ideal is possible anymore withoutlosing them. I do believe that one of the things that makes it
possible for humans to so easily engage in mass killings of any species is the de-individualisation of them - so I want my images to show very clearly
that each animal has it's own identity and experience.

Either way, I do use a percentage of any sales I have on captive animals
to raise funds for various animal related conservation efforts.
Angela Bacon-Kidwell  Natalie, Thank you so much for you answer. I agree with you 100%. I have seen many animal portraits and I really feel connected with yours. I'm happy to hear you have deep feelings and thoughts on your subject. Thanks so much! I understand much more.
King Douglas 4 years ago
Really enjoyed this in screening. Just a very good portrait with sumptuous tones.
Natalie Manuel  Thanks very much.
Andrew Stewart 4 years ago
Really like your processing on this, and the gorilla's expression
Natalie Manuel  Thanks - I re-processed it recently as was never quite happy
with it.
george gradinaru 4 years ago
excellent !
Natalie Manuel  Thanks!
Thomas Ljungberg 4 years ago
Great shot again Natalie! Very nice lighting, the vinjetting is done very well and authentic. I made a comment on cropping when voting, it would be interesting to see a crop with less of the sleeping gorilla, giving more attention to that intense expression. But this is great as well!!!
/Thomas
Natalie Manuel  THanks Thomas! I actually do have a couple of different crops including
one like you've asked about, so I may try and get it published and if nto, least you can see it in screening!

The reason I actually kept elements of the other gorillas in it is to make it feel more like a 'spot light', and have the viewer drawn into the
expression on her face even though there were other Gorillas around her.
Thomas Ljungberg  Hi, actually I think this is the optimal crop of this image. If one would crop part of the left gorilla, this would give the eye a way out of the image with the light gorillaback on the edge. Now the dark area to the left of the sleepy one holds your eye in the frame and let you wonder to the main subject. And it sets a nice context... Again, wonderfull shot!
/Thomas
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Equipment
Canon 30D & 70-300 IS lens
Location
Australia
Date
2007MMDD
Tags
GORILLA, PRIMATE, ANIMAL
Unique views
8867
Comments
10
Category
Everyday
 
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