So, we are almost one month into 2012 and while a few have got on my nerves, I must say that yesterday I met my first true asshole of the new year!
A lovely morning walk turned shitty real quick after a few minutes with this individual.
As many of you know, I enjoy nature walks and almost always bring my camera along because I never know what I am going to see. Both Angie and I feel it is our "yoga" to walk in the woods, away from most people. Most often it is a nice peaceful time but occasionally you cross paths with an asshole. Yesterday was one of those times...
I usually say "hello" to whoever I pass on the trails. Most people are quite friendly and return the comment along with a smile. Some keep on walking, not even looking. And then there was this guy. "Do you know where the Owls are?" No "hi" or nothing, just hit me with this question. Of all the wildlife to be seeking, he had to ask about the Owls. For those who may not know, it is unfortunate, but Owl locations really should be kept quiet. Why? Owls can be all around us at certain times of the year but they are masters of camouflage, hiding in the woods and rarely seen by most people. If one studies up on a species, learns their preferred habitat and trees, they may luck out one day. It can be real work to see certain Owls or it can be just dumb luck. Most people it is work. But not everybody likes work and to spend a couple hours searching out Owls in a woodlot, and to come up with nothing can be a real piss off to some. Even when someone reports an Owl sighting on the internet, most times it is not that specific... so while another may end up in the same area, there's still work involved to spot it. Okay, sorry for the ramble here... point is, some people have no boundaries and especially when it comes to Owls because they are stunningly beautiful majestic creatures and so rare to see for most people. And once a boundary lacking person sees an Owl, they will pretty much sit on this bird, with their camera for as long as they feel like it. Guys like this feel it is their right to take 1,000 photos of the Owl while the bird is trying to live it's life... to rest, to hunt, to eat and just plain survive.
Owls come to the GTA through the winter. They are hardy creatures but with food lacking at times because of the snow, they store much energy by resting in between hunts, and to keep warm. Having people in their face with cameras for hours on end is not restful.
So, of course I did not offer any information to this guy but did engage in some conversation when I probably should have just said "no" and kept walking. I knew from that initial question and how he was dressed, he was as we refer to as "f**king photographer". There are birders, there are wildlife photographers, and there is a cross between both much like myself who enjoy both. And then there are as I mentioned the "f**king photographer". For them, it's all about the photographs and nothing else. They will do what they have to, often very selfish things that can put their wildlife subjects at risk, just to get those shots. It doesn't matter to them in the end if the animal was stressed to no end because of whatever they did, or even if the animal died in some occasions. The photographer got his shots, he can brag to his friends, post them on the internet for all to see, and nobody will know the dirty tricks he did to get the pics.
99.9% of my photos, I can look back at, and have a good memory. I do have one shot that has a dark story to it, but not of my doing. I will save that for another day but it did involve a "f**king photographer".
So, the conversation went something like this...
"Do you know where the Owls are?"
"Ummm, there was a Great Horned Owl here but hasn't been seen since before Christmas."
"Oh. How about the Long-ears? I know they are here but I always seem to miss them. People tell me they were right here, out in the open an hour ago." as he points to the bare trees in the woods. If his first question didn't tell me what he was all about, this sure did, and it showed that he knows nothing when it comes to Owls. All he knows is that he wants pictures.
I could feel within myself that I was getting angry. To have a person like this near me, and in a wooded area that I visit often and enjoy so much was upsetting.
I rambled on for a bit with some rather insinuating and demeaning bits of certain types of photographers that have no respect for the wildlife, you know the things I mentioned above here. I called them "selfish fuckers" and certainly not humane.
His reply was that all wildlife photographers do selfish things from time to time because they want the shot. And before I could tell him one more thing, two words that definitely weren't "Merry Christmas", he finished with an admittance that he does do "selfish things", whatever it takes to get his shots. The guy admitted his guilt! I couldn't believe it! He came by it honestly, like I would accept that. Usually this type of photographer would never admit to being guilty of doing those things they know very well are heavily frowned upon by most. They keep these secrets to themselves or share with other "f**king photographers".
I said a few more things really quick, can't really put it all together, but I made him quite aware that I don't approve of such things and it was probably a very good idea to get away from me. And he did just that... went the other way.
I walked away, shaking my head. And moments later found myself surrounded by a herd of Deer. Two at first, then three, and then a couple Bucks walked in, next thing I know there was 6, then 7 and in the end a total of 10! I stood quite still, letting them do their thing and getting used to my presence... showing respect to them and their home. And they rewarded me with a lengthy view of them going about their day, grazing wherever they could and interacting with each other. The Bucks didn't stay for long and at one point, I had three females so close to me I couldn't even take photos! Mind you, I had put the camera down well before this, and took in the moment with them.
It was me, who once again, as in other encounters with the Deer, that chose to walk away. They sure changed the vibe of my walk back to what it is supposed to feel like.
I got on Facebook immediately, changed my status to share my adventures of both good and bad. And timing was right because a buddy of mine who works at the visitor centre where I was at picked up on my status, knew where I was without me saying it, and kept an eye out for that "f**king photographer".
Take a look at this photo below. Sure this guy is holding a gun and not a camera, but pretend he is. A "f**king photographer" can have the same impact on wildlife as this guy with a gun. And the guy I met that morning is even more dangerous. The fact he is so ignorant to the Owls he seeks out is scary. He was quite harmless where I met him, well away and very clueless to where the Long-ears were roosting for the day. But if he ever found out, it would be a very shitty stressful day for those poor Owls.
I just had to say... "Yesterday I met my first asshole of 2012!"
