Bobg657 wrote:
Congrats on being featured, well deserved!
Thank you Bob
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bobbytan wrote:
These are gorgeous - love the 2nd one!
Thanks Bobby..fun cats to chase around and photograph
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juankgigo wrote:
Many congrats! well deserved.
Juan Carlos
Thank you Juan. They are indeed special felines and was very fortunate to be able to spend some quality time with them.
Eric
I was trying to make up my mind of where to go in 2020. Your pictures made up my mind. Wonderful, especially the last one. The face is so special. Did you book your own trip? Lovely photos. Thanks.
runakid wrote:
I was trying to make up my mind of where to go in 2020. Your pictures made up my mind. Wonderful, especially the last one. The face is so special. Did you book your own trip? Lovely photos. Thanks.
Geez, maybe I should get a cut from the tour operator....email sent (to you that is )
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AGeoJO wrote:
Congrats on a well-deserved FTOW, Eric!
Joshua
Thanks Joshua...your support and encouragement are always appreciated.
Great light I like the blend of colors between the grass and the lion. I've been shooting wildlife for over 40 years and have only seen wild mountain lions on two occasions that I can remember. I have had the opportunity to photograph several releases but had protection around me. I can not imagine being that close. We just recently had five lions put down here in Colorado as they were prowling in neighborhoods and becoming a threat. Also a hiker was attacked by a young lion in the Fort Collins area and he ended up choking it to death. I'm only taking the time to tell you this for your own safety. Be careful out there.
Don George wrote:
Great light I like the blend of colors between the grass and the lion. I've been shooting wildlife for over 40 years and have only seen wild mountain lions on two occasions that I can remember. I have had the opportunity to photograph several releases but had protection around me. I can not imagine being that close. We just recently had five lions put down here in Colorado as they were prowling in neighborhoods and becoming a threat. Also a hiker was attacked by a young lion in the Fort Collins area and he ended up choking it to death. I'm only taking the time to tell you this for your own safety. Be careful out there....Show more →
Thanks....I suspect there is a big difference from the mountain lions in your neck of the woods and Chile. Two points about Chilean pumas. They had been hunted for many decades and as such are generally afraid of people (bipedal figures). We are the apex diurnal predator. So the bigger issue was habituating these pumas to the presence of people so they could be photographed without them actually running away....the fight vs flight reaction much more likely would be flight. Over the last 7 years or so the pumas in the area were slowly habituated to people and that is what allows us to approach relatively close without much danger.
The story of the guy who choked out the mountain lion in Colorado didn't focus too much on the fact it was 4 months old and 35lbs....a full grown 125-150lbs cat would have made mince meat out of the guy if he didn't have a firearm.
But, being safe is the most important thing when photographing wild cats....being stupid can cost one one's life and no photograph is worth that...and your warning is taken and appreciated.
I have decided to go to Patagonia [God willing] in 2020 for pumas with Jeff Parker tours. My wife suggested going to Washington state to visit my son. Washington has many hundreds of pumas. She suggested tying a ham around my neck and saving time and $$$$.
Thanks for sharing and thanks again for your very helpful answer to a recent post of your polar bears.
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