What do you do when a big Silverback šŸ¦wants to walk right over you?

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

marc

marc

Well-known member
Member's gallery
................................you shut up and let himšŸ¤£

Totally thrilled to be honest. Back in ā€˜93 on the (old) Zaire/Uganda border, I had a mother & baby fall from a broken branch on top of me and now have come full circle completing the picture with a big Silverback called "Rukundo" .........Of course these guys never read the 7 M close zone!
So you can imagine how I felt when that video of mum & baby falling on top of me in ā€˜93 got stolen, this is a small but welcome consolation.
This family group named "Nyakagezi" had 3 Siverbacks in residence, and led by my namesake "Mark"

Many thanks to my fellow Gorilla trekker Gary McClean (from the US) for providing me this wonderful shot .

Mgahinga Nat Park- Uganda.

IMG_3558a.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.





"Nsekuye" 2yr old infant male.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 70-200E FL VR f/2.8
f/5.6
!/1000s
-1 EV
ISO560@ 200mm.

D05_6547BPN.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.



Branching out

Nikon D5
Nikkor 70-200E FL VR f/2.8
f/6.3
!/800s
-1.33 EV
ISO4500@ 95mm.

D05_6853BPN.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.





"Rukundo" giving me the thumbs up šŸ‘
He's one of 3 Silverbacks that make up the 8 member "Nyakagezi" family group, along with 2 adult females, 1 juvenile and 2 infants.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 70-200E FL VR f/2.8
f/5.6
!/800s
-1.33 EV
ISO6400@ 92mm.

D05_6689BPN.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.




Night, night.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 70-200E FL VR f/2.8
f/5.6
!/1000s
-1.3 EV
ISO4500@ 70mm.

D05_6729aBPN.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.




Cheers
Marc
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
Marc, Iā€™m speechless. This is an amazing series of photos. I am really curious about the first photo - can you provide more info on how you get so close to these gorillas?
 
Member's gallery
Kathy G said:
Marc, Iā€™m speechless. This is an amazing series of photos. I am really curious about the first photo - can you provide more info on how you get so close to these gorillas?
Click to expand...

Thanks Kathy

As I hinted in my narrative, it was the Silverback that approached us, not the other way round, totally ignoring the 7M rule, we were boxed in by a small bank and had nowhere to go, hence the closeness, granted there are always the Park Rangers in very close proximity supervising all and sundry. That's the Rangers pant leg you can see in the RLC. ;)
 
Member's gallery
No words... this is just unreal. just simply fantastic! Not going to lie, I would have had to change my shorts if this happened... Iā€™d be really curious what happened after the first photo? Did he just want a closer look and then back off?
I take it the rangers are there to just make sure the photographers are following the rules?
What a truly magical moment.... very few people will ever have an opportunity the photograph these beautiful gorillas nevermind have a story like this... incredible!
 
Member's gallery
The experience of a lifetime. I can just imagine the emotions you experienced. Having had a close-up encounter with a hyped-up black rhino, I remember that I was afraid to breathe at the time, let alone take a photo.

Fantastic story and experience, Marc. Now what do you do for an encore - stick your lens in the face of a Saltie for a portrait shot? šŸ¤”
 
Member's gallery
gordon_g said:
Not going to lie, I would have had to change my shorts if this happened... Iā€™d be really curious what happened after the first photo? Did he just want a closer look and then back off?
Click to expand...
The silverback "Rukundo" just totally ignored me, as if I was just a large log, when I had a mother & baby fall on me (back in '93) all 3 of us just rolled off one another and mum & baby just sauntered off as if nothing happened! Before my video got stolen with that valuable tape inside, upon reviewing it was like a winning scene from Funniest Home Videos, and had it been today would have gone viral in our YouTube world.:ROFLMAO:

gordon_g said:
You and I have different definitions of Funny Sir! LOL.
Click to expand...

Remaining cool, calm and collected is the key Gordon, ;) ...........and just don't look them directly in the eye, would also be prudent!
........Honestly after nearly 40 yrs in the African bush and being charged by Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo, Rhino, Lion & Leopard, this experience was quite a calm and enjoyable one. :giggle:
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
marc said:
Remaining cool, calm and collected is the key Gordon, ;) ...........and just don't look them directly in the eye, would also be prudent!
........Honestly after nearly 40 yrs in the African bush and being charged by Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo, Rhino, Lion & Leopard, this experience was quite a calm and enjoyable one. :giggle:
Click to expand...
Glad to hear.... I generally don't panic easy but I cant imagine that my heart rate would be very good, as someone that has not had 40 years experience in the bush.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.
Back
Top