Staring contest: Uncanny animal portraits
St. Louis, MO, 2012
With the unflinching eye contact of his subjects, Brad Wilson's animal portraits transcend photography and rise to the level of encounter. Some are primal, like the mountain lion eyeing you for lunch; others uncannily human, like the spectacled owl with the furrowed brow of a grade school principal.
The photos share a stillness at odds with the time, effort, and luck that go into capturing the perfect shot. On that last ingredient, Wilson says, "if I was very lucky, I might get two frames from an entire shoot with the animal looking directly into the camera."
For Wilson, that extra effort is worth it: "since we, as humans, respond more powerfully and more emotionally to eye contact, I continually chased that image."
Mountain Lion #1
Los Angeles, CA, 2011
Wilson's process starts simply with a desire to shoot a particular species. He then contacts sanctuaries, zoos, and commercial agencies to find an animal habituated to humans.
Arranging studio space is no small task when your subjects might weigh several tons: "some shoots ended up being held in indoor rooms at sanctuaries or zoos, and some on sound stages in Los Angeles."
Ultimately, the animals themselves determine the duration of a shoot: "sometimes I would get an hour or two, and sometimes I would get ten minutes. When the animal is done, the shoot is over-I never push beyond that point."
Capuchin Monkey #2
Los Angeles, CA, 2010
Wilson hopes his animal portraits convey some feeling of the world he inhabits with them, "a world that we, as humans, have largely abandoned—a place of instinct, intuition, and present moment awareness."
The series might serve as reminder "that we are not alone, we are not separate-we are part of a beautifully rich and interconnected diversity of life."
White Rhinoceros #1
Albuquerque, NM, 2013
Wilson says each animal had its unique challenges, but, "I think the photographs of the white rhinoceros were the hardest to get."
Concerns for the safety of the crew and the rhino dictated exceptional parameters set forth by the zoo. Wilson was not allowed to contain the 4,600-lb. animal in any way, so he wouldn't be spooked by the lighting equipment and charge.
"So the rhino had to 'decide' on his own to walk in and stand in front of my black background in just the right spot. We tempted him with his favorite hay, but mostly he stayed away, or ran in and out very quickly. After two days of shooting, I had only three usable frames."
Eurasian Eagle Owl #1
St. Louis, MO, 2012
Portraits are tough when your subjects can turn their heads 180-degrees away from the camera.
Wilson sought direct eye contact, but because the owls "were far more interested in looking at the black background rather than at me and my lights, a frontal gaze was exceptionally rare."
Mandrill #1
Los Angeles, CA, 2014
Caracal #2
Monterey, CA, 2014
Arctic Fox #1
Los Angeles, CA, 2011
Baboon #2
Los Angeles, CA, 2011
African Elephant #1
Los Angeles, CA, 2010
Black Leopard #1
Monterey, CA, 2014
Golden Tiger #1
Monterey, CA, 2014
Barn Owl #1
St. Louis, MO, 2012
Orangutan #7
Los Angeles, CA, 2014
Cheetah #3
Los Angeles, CA, 2011
Zebra #3
Los Angeles, CA, 2010
Capuchin Monkey #6
Monterey, CA, 2014
White Tiger #4
Monterey, CA, 2014
Green Anaconda #1
Albuquerque, NM, 2013
Serval #1
Albuquerque, NM, 2013
Baboon #4
Monterey, CA, 2014
Great Horned Owl #3
Espanola, NM, 2011
Chimpanzee #6
Los Angeles, CA, 2010
Eastern Screech Owl #1
St. Louis, MO, 2012