Jonathan Griffiths: Close Encounters with Lions, Tigers & bears

Just stumble into some wonderful wildlife photos taken by British photographer Jonathan Griffiths. And I can't wait to share with you.

Original articles are here:
http://www.telegraph.c​o.uk …rs-of-the-furry-kind.html
And here:
http://interestingplan​et.com …-griffiths-photos-animals

Mix some of the photos and detail from about two articles:

Lions, tigers and bears: British photographer Jonathan Griffiths' close encounters of the furry kind

http://interestingplan​et.com …athanGriffiths1​_thumb.jpg
These wildlife shots were captured under controlled conditions by a British photographer in Montana, the US. Jonathan Griffiths held his camera just inches away from tigers, bears and cougars to get the close-up photos

http://interestingplan​et.com …05/JonathanGrif​fiths2.jpg
The 32-year-old endured minus 40 degree Celsius temperatures at a wildlife breeding reserve to get the shots
Snow leopard

http://interestingplan​et.com …athanGriffiths4​_thumb.jpg
A lion demonstrates its power by swiping at his camera

http://interestingplan​et.com …athanGriffiths5​_thumb.jpg
A tiger leaves condensation on his lens with its breath

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For Jonathan the scariest moment came when he came face-to-face with a black leopard, "which made me fear for my life and I thought it could attack at any moment. It was was just mean and did not like humans full stop"

http://interestingplan​et.com …thanGriffiths12​_thumb.jpg
Two Brown bears roar at the camera

All links provide as above and hold I don't break the forum rule; otherwise I'll remove the pictures links.

Enjoy

amazing....the tiger shots are out of this world...

Wow! He's got some balls! Amazing shots, seems like it's worth the risk!

Is there an article somewhere?

his employer won't spend the money on good telephotos, lol

The article is here although not in great depth. Sounds a bit like the crazy guy that went live with the bears in Atlaska (a Herzog movie was made I think)

http://www.telegraph.c​o.uk …ce-to-face-with-lion.html

Ahh I seem to recall this article and presentation causing a bit of a stir since the animals aren't "wild" but the common understanding of the term. They aren't trained "acting" animals (as I understand it) so not overly used to human contact, but there were in a breeding centre and the situations, whilst close and certainly risky, it is nothing like shooting a 100% wild lion/bear in its natural environment as these animals are at least partially used to human contact.

Neat shots and interesting angles and certainly some risk, but the wildlife label is debatable.

Overread wrote in post #11277807
Ahh I seem to recall this article and presentation causing a bit of a stir since the animals aren't "wild" but the common understanding of the term. They aren't trained "acting" animals (as I understand it) so not overly used to human contact, but there were in a breeding centre and the situations, whilst close and certainly risky, it is nothing like shooting a 100% wild lion/bear in its natural environment as these animals are at least partially used to human contact.

Neat shots and interesting angles and certainly some risk, but the wildlife label is debatable.

They are wild in the very definition. Domesticated animals have become such because of constant human contact and interaction. While they may be on a reserve, these are just as willing to attack as if they weren't. Granted, they are in a more controlled environment, but they are still wild. Have you ever heard the phrase, "You can take the dog out of the fight, but you can't take the fight out of the dog." If, at any moment, these animals felt threatened, the photog would have been a delicious meal. That being said, where in the heck can I sign up for that type of gig?

Sounds a bit like the crazy guy that went live with the bears in Atlaska...http://www.telegraph.c​o.uk/earth/wil...with-lion.html

I think that crazy guy got himself killed.

Not sure what the term "inches" means but...I do know what "enticed" with chicken means. We call it "baiting", which is generally frowned upon.

The whole thing sounds like..."well that depends on your definition of what "is" is."

Alot of wildlife photography is shot under relatively controlled conditions. Safari parks, roaming zoos and so on. And some animals get used to having people around. The animals aren't tame pets but they are easier to photograph than really and truly going in the wild.