40 Wildlife Photographers Who Got Ambushed By Their Subjects In Hilarious Ways

Not getting in the way of nature is wildlife photography 101.

But imagine seeing a fluffy, friendly monkey just an arm’s length away. How do you resist the urge to reach out?

Well, you have to. It’s part of the job. And those who break this rule often pay the price.

Take Nancy Black, a U.S. marine biologist who fed killer whales while filming in 2004.

She was later fined $12,500 and placed on three years’ probation for luring the whales closer to her boat in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Even if you don’t lure animals, bending the truth for a perfect shot can land you in hot water. In wildlife photography, no one’s handing out awards for Photoshop skills.

José Luis Rodriguez lost his Natural History Museum Photographer of the Year award after passing off what was likely a tame wolf as a wild one.

National Geographic photographer Gilles Nicolet faced backlash for staging a photo on ivory poaching using tusks borrowed from authorities.

Even David Attenborough faced criticism for narration that implied a polar bear den filmed in a zoo was actually in the wild.

Wildlife photography is a fine line you have to walk if you want to do it seriously.

Of course, beyond the laws protecting endangered species and the ethical guidelines in place, photographers do have creative freedom in how they bring their visions to life.

“Organizations may have their own guidelines [consider the BBC’s, for example], but there is a lot of variation in what’s considered acceptable,” professional wildlife filmmaker and photographer Jeff Hogan told National Geographic.

“That’s true among photographers, too—ethics vary widely. Plus, a lot of it depends on what you are trying to do with your work.”

If you’re filming a documentary, certain standards apply that might not be as strict when you’re creating a piece “based on a true story” or simply capturing a beautiful moment to hang on your wall.

Then there’s the patience. Lots of it.

“Basically, I wait,” is how Michel d’Oultremont, Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2018, described his work to Vice.

To capture that one perfect frame, d’Oultremont spent weeks alone in places like Japan’s Hokkaido, the Carpathian Mountains, and Yellowstone in the U.S.

Often hidden beneath branches, he stayed perfectly still for up to eight hours a day, blending into the landscape as he waited for wildlife to appear.

Research and resourcefulness are also part of the craft. d’Oultremont, for instance, relies on tips from wildlife experts and forest rangers and scours Google Maps to find the best vantage points.

“I look up forest edges [where there’s usually more biodiversity], swamps and paths that animals might take. Plus it’s useful to pick the right spot for your lookout,” he explained.

And, of course, there’s the reality of expensive gear, unpredictable weather, long stretches alone with your thoughts, and animals that aren’t always as friendly as they look.

Yet when that moment finally arrives and you get the shot you’ve been working for, it’s worth every bit of the effort. Sharing these glimpses of the world as it is without us is a gift to everyone who gets to see it.

It’s a tough job, but it’s a rewarding one. So here’s to wildlife photographers and everything they’re willing to endure so we can witness the beauty of animals in their element.