Meerkat Melodrama

Meerkats love melodrama.
When photographing meerkats, make sure you have a TV (Ideally, a giant plasma screen) handy. Turns out they love to watch movies. But not just any movies, mind you. Oh no. Turns out they are hopeless romantics. Betcha didn't know that, didya?
In fact, when you see them all grouped up in the wild looking into the distance, they are in fact looking for signs of Drew Barrymore, Katherine Heigl, Kate Hudson or Jennifer Aniston.
Side note: This grouping of meerkats is usually called a gang, mob or clan if you're a devotee of National Geographic, Discovery or Animal Planet but I prefer "girl's night out" and am waiting for Lifetime to do a series "The real housewives of Botswana"...ahhh, but I digress. 
Back to the shoot... 
Fortunately, being the worldly and sensitive guy I am, I had a large collection of romantic comedies in studio perfect for my afternoon session with this lovely creature whose real name was Suma but who I nicknamed Sally (after the title character in...yup... "When Harry met Sally")

So we watched scenes from:
"He's just not that into you"
"The Wedding Singer"
"Pretty Woman"
"27 Dresses"
"Maid in Manhattan" 
"Pretty in Pink"
"50 First Dates"
Note: " I totally drew the line at "Sex in the City" (sorry SJP. Would rather drink bourbon with Matthew rather than cosmos with you)

At this point, the folks assembled in my studio had gone through 2 boxes of kleenex, 3 pints of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, a box of chocolate covered cherries and 3 bottles of white zinfandel. I on the other hand was trying not to hurl and focusing on Suma/Sally.

At the end of the day, I filled a 16mb card and everyone hugged. Ahh, catharsis.

For those of you taking copious notes on working with animals, know that this shot was taken during Meg Ryan's famous scene in "When Harry met Sally." No, not the scene in the deli; meerkats find loud orgasms startling and makes them seek shelter (much like some of my lesser-male friends...if you're reading this, you know who you are.) 
No, this was taken when Sally was placing her order in the restaurant earlier in the movie. (Turns out meerkats are picky eaters, too.

This is Lucy

Maybe it's that I was there, literally a few feet away from her 
as our eyes met and held. 
Maybe it's that I kept wondering 
who was more curious? 
Who was studying who more intently? 
No matter, this image for me is about connecting with our subjects and the spirituality that comes from having photography as an all-consuming passion. (Note I did not say "job" for it may not be for everyone and even if it is, it rarely feels that way...at least to me).
For me, this image is beyond powerful as it reminds me of what is possible and what is waiting (demanding) to be shared. And while I know technically, there are things that are less than perfect, on an emotional level, it doesn't get any better for me.
It's one of the joys of being a photographer, isn't it...when these moments of connection arise for each of us (no matter your genre of choice or experience level) and take us to a truly magnificent place. 
Find them.
Share them.
Celebrate them.
Stay inspired

Meerkat Melodrama

A Melenistic Leopard posing for me

Lions and tigers are beautiful. Don't get me wrong. But for outright animal magnetism, Leopards gets my vote.

Fabianna, Queen of the Baboons

Fabianna, Queen of the Baboons, giving the man who called himself her Keeper her most provocative look and a slow, deliberate view of her assets; so full, pendulous and scarlet red...

There he was again, with his brilliant sparkling eyes and knowing smile. Taunting her. Teasing her. Each beat of her heart like a primal chant in the villages near her birthplace. She could see the banana he secretly carried, long, ripe and proudly curved; swaying back and forth gently. It made her shudder with anticipation. With each breath, her chest heaved like a bulimic after Thanksgiving dinner...


With sincerest apologies to anyone with an eating or Romance Novel disorder. These are serious issues and should not be made fun of.

Perfectly poised Peacock with plumage proudly pointed posing

So here's what you do: find a beautiful background with lots of color and plop yourself down on the ground hoping that an equally beautiful and colorful bird parades along. If you dream enough, one will eventually come true. 

And then if you're really lucky, the perfectly pedigreed peacock will want to be your pet.

Finer feathered friends

A series of tests for a large scale project I'm working on.

When photographers go bump in the night

I really must learn to walk a bit more softly. I am (hopelessly) the quintessential bull in a china shop) and this charming fellow clearly did not appreciate it.

Nose to nose with Pattycake, a Western Lowland Gorilla

I highly recommend pretending it's summer so you can take summer hours and happily visit one of your favorite places. Mine is the Bronx Zoo where I was literally the only person in the vast zoo other than the zookeepers and other staff. Headed off to the Congo Exhibit for a family reunion of sorts where I camped out with my camera and watched the antics of the gorillas (my hairier relatives) who didn't seem to mind my company. In fact, based on some of the images I got, quite the contrary. Pattycake was playing with one of her teen boys when she noticed me and came over. And just looked at me. I almost didn't want to raise the camera to take a picture because of the connection I felt.

Another day, another stroll on the beach

The "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society is officially called to order

Mildred, Vice Chairperson and Recording Secretary for the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society watches the last runner in their fundraising Turkey Trot cross the finish line.

Tofuducken, anyone? You'll gobble it up.

John, CFO and Treasurer of the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society exhibiting a rare outburst of anger at the lackluster results from the recent Tofucakes Bake Sale.

The heretofore super-secret recipe for Mildred's Tofucakes with Cornbread, Oyster and Cranberry Frosting may be posted here eventually.

Florence came all the way up from the Greenville, South Carolina Chapter to attend the Annual Tofucakes Breakfast and 5K Turkey Trot sponsored by the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society

Nothing beats a short stack of tofucakes smothered in warm sweet potato and maple syrup (except maybe some of Aunt Edith's Scratch Biscuits with Tofu Gravy).


Ethel's feathers were ruffled earlier when John made an off-color remark about her tofu cobbler tasting like chicken. Such displays are frowned upon at the Pocantico, New York Chapter of the "Make Tofu the star this Thanksgiving" Society's board meetings.

Tastes like chicken...hmmmmph!

Coupla giraffe buddies trying to keep a straight face

I had no idea how totally and completely immature giraffes could be. All I wanted was a simple group portrait. Nothing fancy. Just stand together and smile. And try not to drool. (2nd from right was a drooler) Or make obscene babboon and camel jokes. Or pee on each other's hooves. Or swat each other with their tails...