Wild Dog
The reputation of dangerous places, things, animals is almost always exaggerated. It's not that it doesn't exist, but the danger is usually slight enough to justify the risk. For example, I was afraid the first time I visited New York City, expecting gangs and pickpockets at every corner. I've been close, very close to grizzly bears, lions, and other toothy critters. Yes, incidents do happen, but usually to people who aren't cognizant or just ignore the risk and go for a jog or carry food or do something else provocative. A friend of mine and others I know about swim with sharks. Pet them. One professional friend of mine gets out of the cage once in-a-while with great white sharks. He's still here to tell about it. All that rambling preamble to this image dates back to when I was warned not to go into wild dog country in an open vehicle. "They will kill you" I was told. Years later, on a trip with Todd Gustafson, one of the premier photographers in the world, we had the opportunity to photograph a pack of wild dogs. Like most wild animals, they have seen humans from the moment they could see. Inside a vehicle we were to be ignored, or maybe used as shade. The risk at the airport or driving in the rain over wet and slippery ground was much more dangerous than being close to a pack of wild dogs.
(Lycaon pictus)
Wild Dog
The reputation of dangerous places, things, animals is almost always exaggerated. It's not that it doesn't exist, but the danger is usually slight enough to justify the risk. For example, I was afraid the first time I visited New York City, expecting gangs and pickpockets at every corner. I've been close, very close to grizzly bears, lions, and other toothy critters. Yes, incidents do happen, but usually to people who aren't cognizant or just ignore the risk and go for a jog or carry food or do something else provocative. A friend of mine and others I know about swim with sharks. Pet them. One professional friend of mine gets out of the cage once in-a-while with great white sharks. He's still here to tell about it. All that rambling preamble to this image dates back to when I was warned not to go into wild dog country in an open vehicle. "They will kill you" I was told. Years later, on a trip with Todd Gustafson, one of the premier photographers in the world, we had the opportunity to photograph a pack of wild dogs. Like most wild animals, they have seen humans from the moment they could see. Inside a vehicle we were to be ignored, or maybe used as shade. The risk at the airport or driving in the rain over wet and slippery ground was much more dangerous than being close to a pack of wild dogs.
(Lycaon pictus)