I discovered special effects in the summer of 1969. I was working between college semesters for the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor maintaining World War II dry-docks, and I found a piece of red glass in an old darkroom. It was surrealistic looking at the world through it, and I started experimenting with all kinds of wild visual techniques. From then until now, much of my photography has been about creating my own reality irrespective of what I see with my eyes. The subject matter can vary -- wildlife, portraits, travel, macro, architecture -- but my intent is always the artistic. I'm never making any political, social, or ethical commentaries with my pictures. It's always about the visual.
In yesterday's post of the snow leopard on Facebook, I was criticized because some followers don't like animals in cages and they said I shouldn't support a business that houses captive animals. Second, they were no happy because I didn't mention the leopard was captive. I thought it was pretty obvious this is a captive animal since I was conducting a Winter Wildlife Workshop, as I stated, plus there are no wild snow leopards in Montana! Regarding the cages, I hate to see animals in cages. It's painful and depressing to me, but that's what people all over the world do from zoos to producers of veal to caged birds. I'm not going to change that, but at least beautiful pictures of exotic animals make people want to save and protect them. If no one ever sees a snow leopard, no one will care if they go extinct. And it is extremely unlikely that striking closeups of snow leopards can happen in the wild.
One other point. If people were to shut down game farms like Triple D in Kalispell, all of their animals would be killed by the governmental agency shutting them down. The animals would have nowhere to go and they'd be euthanized. No one ever thinks about that.
This is a mountain. lion I photographed today. The background was out of focus because I used a telephoto lens, so I replaced it with the same mountain but now it's sharp. I then added the sky for drama.
5 Comments
Jan 20, 2023, 9:10:50 PM
Barbara Vickers - I agree with your philosophy Jim. I have never had the. opportunity to see a snow leopard and so many other beautiful animals that you have photographed. Thank you.
Jan 20, 2023, 5:15:10 PM
Jim - I appreciate that, Rosemary.
Jan 20, 2023, 2:00:33 PM
Rosemary Sheel - Thanks for not backing down.
Jan 20, 2023, 8:50:09 AM
Jim - Thank you, Steve. That seems so obvious, but it escapes a lot of people. Good to hear from you.
Jan 20, 2023, 7:05:40 AM
Steve Upton - I completely agree Jim. Without photos sharing the incredible beauty of these almost non-existent animals, there is little chance to get the public to care about saving the habitat for them to live in the wild.