Most people know I love photographing people. What they don’t always know is that some of my favorite subjects have four paws…and very big teeth.
I used to volunteer at Serenity Springs Wildlife Center, an organization in Colorado that rescues animals from around the United States, mostly large cats, with a few lemurs, bears, and other beasties. It was amazing… Some of the cats were retired Las Vegas performers, others came from people that realized a 450-pound Bengal tiger doesn’t make a great house pet, some came from zoos that simply couldn’t support the critter, and still others came from non-profit centers that could no longer keep their doors open.
Every time I visited the center, I would go see Willy, he was a beautiful and LARGE Siberian tiger. Willy used to work in Vegas, but got too big for the props and performance. He was MY cat, my favorite. We would play stalking games (Red light, Green light). I would introduce him to the tours. I would sit by his habitat and just chat (thank goodness he never chatted back). I can still hear his morning chuff every time I think about Serenity Springs.
People often ask why these animals aren’t simply re-released back into the wild. The answer is heartbreaking but simple. Most were born in captivity and have never learned the skills they would need to survive on their own. Other people gripe about letting kids play with the animals when they are small or take photos with them, again, these animals will live at Serenity Springs or other centers like this for the rest of their lives, it is VERY important that the animals get socialized to humans.
As for taking photos of the cats and bears, please understand, these are extremely large animals and I’m not about to climb into their enclosures. I watch animal handlers that raised the cats treat them with respect and know their power. Almost all the photos I take, I am on the outside of a VERY STRONG fence, while the beastie is safely on the other side. Using a zoom lens and a lot of patience, I get great photos. Most people don’t realize that many of the incredible animal photographs they see in magazines are created with a great animal handler, a favorite toy, and a whole lot of patience.
Sadly, the owner of Serenity Springs got sick and had to close the rescue, so it is no longer there. The animals got good homes across the country, the volunteers made sure of that. And the incredible part – all the new homes reported back how wonderful the cats behaved because they had been raised with love and care.
Behind the Lens with Brody Hall
Spending time around animals like these taught me something I still carry into every photo shoot. Whether I’m photographing a tiger, a child, or a CEO, the best images never come from forcing the moment. They come from patience. From respect. From waiting until trust replaces tension. Sometimes the greatest photograph isn’t captured because of the camera… It’s captured because you were willing to wait.
