concealment and complicity

Yesterday, a friend sent me the link to National Geographic’s Annual International Photography Contest:

www.noupe.com/photography/40-breathtaking-photos-from-national-geographic-contest.html

My response:

Wow! Interesting how the first two photos taken from this collection show and discuss a connection between human and nonhuman animal behavior, while another selection from this very collection contrasts any such connection through “concealment and complicity” and “horror of captivity.”

I can imagine myself in the peacefulness and joy first two photos, but hate to imagine myself as those pictured in the third one. How sad.

By Silvia Martinez Dominguez, Spain
Under a beautiful light, a monkey rests on the stones of the Angkor temples, in Cambodia. The image shows animal behavior and suggests the close connection between humans and our nearest relatives in nature.


By Xen Riggs, United States
A newly born silver-leaf langur gets some early discipline and love from his doting parents. This baby monkey was just about 12 hours old, born at the Columbus, Ohio, Zoo in August of 2009.


By Li Feng, China
Caged monkeys await their fate at a medical laboratory in Hubei Province, China. The judges liked that this image subverts the usual romanticized approach to wildlife photography and more accurately reflects the fate of many of the world’s animals. The sneaker at the top provides scale and injects a human being into the scene; the anonymity of the wearer suggests concealment and complicity. The structure of the cages, the horror of the captivity, the crowded composition, and the claustrophobic tension all add up to a sad and compelling photo.