Photographing chimpanzees is challenging.
To help us create images worthy of sharing with our followers, the sanctuary has a small collection of donated cameras and lenses (some of which were items on our Amazon Wish List). Unlike those versatile zoom and prime lenses, macro lenses are specialized for close-up photography and are currently absent from our regular kit. In order to play around with one at work and in the field, I personally rented a compatible one from an online retailer and brought it to the sanctuary for a couple days.
Macro lenses are functionally unique because they can zoom in on things close to the lens, yielding a final image that is literally larger than life. This practice is generally known as “macro-photography” and gives the associated lenses their descriptive name. (Perplexingly, “micro” and “macro” lenses are the same thing; Nikon uses the former prefix for their lenses while Canon and Sony employ the latter).
If this is a topic that piques your interest, I highly recommend going to Instagram’s feed for the popular hashtag: #macrophotography. Some of the most common subjects include insects, eyes, flowers, mushrooms, water droplets, and food items.
Conveniently, most macro lenses also take sharp portraits of larger subjects (even though many of these are technically not “macro” images).
I have included some of the portraits I opportunistically captured of the chimps with the borrowed macro lens. I hope you all enjoy them!
On this World Animal Day, thank you Anthony for capturing these works of beauty. I know that Jamie likes to look at photographs of herself, and that Willy, Honey B and Mave like to see their reflections in the videocamera; I hope that at least some of the Lucky Half-dozen will be interested to look at pictures of themselves. I write this so often, but it is so true: the residents of the Sanctuary are so beautiful!
And, with their lips positioned thus, I hope that one of their friends came by to give Terry and Rayne a kiss…
Thanks, Tobin!
As you wrote, many of the chimps seem to stare into reflective surfaces. It can make it easier to take compelling photographs since they’re often staring inquisitively right into the lens!
As for the lips, I recall that Terry was pouting and Rayne was in the early stages of a hoot. 🙂
Anthony, that is stunning photography! Thank you.
Thanks, Pamela!
These are amazing photos of the beautiful (and handsome) chimpanzees. The style of the photos remind me of the old view finders we had as kids. Thanks to all at CSNW. Love you all – chimpanzees and humans alike.
I’m glad I could spark a bit of nostalgia, Susan! We appreciate your support!
OMG!! i am totally impressed with the photography, i love ALL these pictures!!! great work!!
Thank you, Laura!
loved todays pictures, using macro is really special
think my husband is jealous when i said, I LOVE CY! he perked up and said, Who’s Cy?
thanks for the daily blog, one day our borders will open and I will be on your doorstep:flag_ca:
Well, we all have some sort of crush on Cy. He’s a handsome chimp and his confidence is remarkable.
We in the USA send our regards!
So beautiful and compelling! Thank you for your love, commitment and talent. Breathtaking!
These are stunning pics! Please let us know how much a lense costs so we can kick off a donation for one. I would love to see more pics like this!
Hey Kim! That’s an interesting idea. Depending on our other needs for the upcoming year, we just might add some gear to the list 😉
Ooooohhhh, Anthony!! Thank you so much for your photos today! oh, those eyes! Oh, those faces! Oh, those expressions! Oh, those fingers (and chopstick, of course)!! I LOVE these pics — well, of course I LOVE ALL the pics of the chimps. For today, these really spoke to my heart. I’ve been pulled towards drawing chimp hands lately and the pic of Terry’s fingers holding the chopstick is just wonderful. Such a delicate hold he has given his strength and stature. A long, trying day (for me) has been ended with these gifts from your expert eye! Much gratitude…
Thanks, Marya! Terry loves to sit across from caregivers and just “hang out” so it was easy to get shots of his hands and feet!
Anthony ,you are so talented , and able to capture @ the right time, the right monent. Cylooks as though the world is a wonder, Lucky is gazing into my eyes too, & Dora is hilarious.
Thank you, Nancy! I’m glad you liked the photos. 🙂
Always enjoy your posts Anthony. These photos are spectacular! They truly are. The perfect combination–the glowing light of the greenhouse, a special camera lens, a primatologist/photographer who is passionate for the craft and his beloved models, and these gorgeous distinguished faces in killer sharp focus. Anthony, you’ve got something great going on!
Kathleen, I couldn’t agree more. You’ve put it so well! These photos are stunning, Anthony.
Thanks, Carol! I’m glad you liked them. 🙂
Thank you, Kathleen! You’re probably overestimating my photographic skill, but you’re right about at least two things: the new greenhouses provide an excellent backdrop and the chimps are amazing subjects to photograph!
wow! those are absolutely stunning!
Thanks, Jenny!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you, Darcy!
great photos. on the downside, I sure miss stories and photos about the original 7. It’s almost like they are secondary and old news with the new kids on the block.
I’m missing Mr B
Hi, Bill!
Thanks for caring about Burrito (and all the chimps).
I can assure you that there isn’t much planning around who gets featured on the blog each day; we caregivers choose our themes opportunistically just hours before we write them. However, we do try to cover all the chimps and a variety of topics. There are certainly weeks that we may give more updates on one group or another due to ongoing events (e.g. introductions) but our goal is to move the spotlight around the sanctuary.
If you want to stay current on Burrito and his companions, they were featured in today’s post (https://chimpsnw.org/2021/10/blankets-and-nests-type-of-day/) as well as J.B. and Diana’s posts from Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Calendar-ready!
Yes! I didn’t realize someone else already mentioned a calendar. Notecards would be wonderful too.
Beautiful Photos!
Thank You!
Stunning photos! Has the sanctuary ever had calendars available? I would definitely want one.
they do one every year!
Thanks!:slight_smile:
Yw!
Yes, Laurie! Diana puts it together with photos taken by the staff each year. Look for the 2022 edition in the coming months…
Those are wonderful, Anthony! I don’t know why my comment yesterday didn’t post…but my fav is Li’l Dora on a boomer ball, pleased as punch with her lunch!
We’ve found that A) that group LOVES that boomer ball and B) Dora LOVES leeks…
they’re all so beautiful
I agree!!!
Awesome photographic shots! Is Rayne’s forhead bare do to his constant scratching it do to some medical issue?
Thanks, John!
Honestly, we’re not sure what is causing Rayne to have such a dry, ashy forehead. Her skin looks decent otherwise, we haven’t noticed any excessive scratching behavior, and it hasn’t really changed much in her time at CSNW. We’re keeping an eye on it but at the moment it doesn’t seem to be related to- or causing- any welfare concerns.
As for the hair, I don’t know if Rayne ever had any there; many chimps are bald from the brow ridge back to their ears, and Rayne has great hair on the rest of her body. Still, we occasionally see that chimps will overgroom certain body parts (see Jody and Annie’s forearms, Jamie’s belly, Willy B’s shoulders) so that could be contributing to her conspicuously bald head.
I just said out loud “Cy ~ you are one handsome dude! Willy B now has competition for most gorgeous chimp! Love them all. And these pics are simply amazing. I usually overlook the details, so this was a bonus. Thanks for this up close gallery!! More, please………..
Thanks, Dawn! I’ll do my best… 🙂