Would YOU go this far for your perfect picture?

[RichardChapman]

Hi all,

Just was sent this by a friend, really quite incredible a wildlife photographer would endure this for some photos. (They are quite something though!)

The crazy thing is he said he would do it all again...! I'll let you make up your own mind.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... l?ITO=1490

[mackay123]

many thanks for sharing richard!

The crazy thing is he said he would do it all again...! I'll let you make up your own mind.

personally i think the possible prospect of actually dying to get a photo is maybe a step to far? , but seriously i'm only kidding, this guy and his photo's are clearly the real deal! , they are truly amazing photo's, totally inspirational!!!!!!!, it is photo's like these that make me want/need to continue in photography!!!!!
to be honest i think this photographer is excellent and clearly a very, very clever guy!........but maybe clever guys don't just submerge themselves in tropical disease invested pools without some precautions?....so maybe the write up has been tweaked a bit to be more exciting for us mere mortals?

once again cheers richard for sharing!

P.S maybe a wetsuit or better still a drysuit (would a drysuit be comfortable in a hot climate?) could work here?

[overread]

I recall seeing an underwater crocodile cage setup in the BBC Wild competition show (that one where they had contestants fighting for the BBC job). That would be my idea of a setup for this kind of work. More cost and bulk and something that the animals would have to get used to - but with water present in such an arid environment I think it would not take long and it would be far safer in many ways - as well as a bit more comfortable, and a box design would allow for some movement, very important if having to remain in one place for such long durations of time.

[liewwk]

thanks for sharing .. not really sure I can take this for 3month .. as while in the situation we don;t know what will would we do ..

[SteB]

Spectacular photos. However, I remember having to study Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis) and all the various types of Malaria, plus quite a few of the other nasty tropical diseaseas as part of my degree. I also had a friend who was a nurse and who had specialised in tropical medicine and she lent me some of her textbooks - I still shudder to think of some of the photos in these textbooks. So the idea of anyone actually knowingly wanting to expose themselves to these horrible illnesses seems absolutely bonkers to me. Not all of them are easily cleared up and many have long term complications - Bilharzia being known to cause a greatly elevated risk of liver cancer. It does seem unnecessarily macho and gung-ho. As Steve says it does seem like he could have taken precautions.

[Juza]

Fantastic photos and very fascinating story! :-)

[the_cheetah]

Three months I could live with, tropical diseases...no thanks.

[tomw]

It does seem totally worth the time invested for the reward, however I agree with whats been said, he really should have taken precautions. I wouldnt deliberately expose myself to diseases for a picture, but a little risk I can take. Maybe its just his threshold for pain and suffering are far higher than mine

[mackay123]

I recall seeing an underwater crocodile cage setup in the BBC Wild competition show (that one where they had contestants fighting for the BBC job). That would be my idea of a setup for this kind of work. More cost and bulk and something that the animals would have to get used to - but with water present in such an arid environment I think it would not take long and it would be far safer in many ways - as well as a bit more comfortable, and a box design would allow for some movement, very important if having to remain in one place for such long durations of time.

very good point overread!, i was thinking more about the diseases.....and had totally missed the slightly more obvious threat of a pride of lions being only a few metres away!!!

[overread]

Thinking on it some more I've no idea if elephants and other larger mammals are active in the area he was working in, but a cage setup would be highly immobile - get a herd of elephant or any thing large that likes to get into the water and you could well end up either running out of money as you try to armour the cage or trapped and possibly crushed inside if they move far enough out onto the water.

I'd want a spotter idealy - someone up high ( and safe) who has a full view of the appraoch(s) to the watering hole. That way one knows which way to face (another issue of a cage) and also can make for a quick exit if something that might enter the water and cause harm approaches.

[Peerke]

What an idiot. You must be very desperate to put yourself into such a risk. Great pictures, that is true.

[RichardChapman]

Glad this article has got so much discussion, I truly couldn't believe a photographer put himself through this.

I knew exactly where to post the link though

[the_cheetah]

I guess my biggest worry would be hippos.

[hauti]

Totally addicted to photography guy he is ... I would never put my life in such risk but on the other hand ill never make so beautiful pictures.
Crazy material ... tfs

[LWP]

This is what wildlife photography is really about. This is what it should be like, people that go to zoos or to a park or reserve where animals are known to be is too easy. I'd do this, and being in his shoes I would have done it. He's alive right?