Who knew? Who knew among the many awards given out, there is a Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photo Award? I recently stumbled on this on-line. And this year’s winner is– a gorilla.
One does not usually see this beast of the jungle in such a light. Typical pictures show a gorilla peering through undergrowth, or hunched over, backside revealed, disappearing into the forest, or if standing, beating his chest.
The winner is doing none of this. He is dancing in an open meadow. At least he looks to be dancing. He is standing upright, one hand to his forehead, and one leg raised to his chest. He is alone. Something in his stance evoked a smile on my face, and in the several times I’ve seen it, I have smiled again.
He is alone although his family is known. Perhaps he is dancing for joy to be away, if only briefly, from his mother saying, “Don’t tease your younger brother,” or “Include your younger brother in your game,” or “Don’t be greedy. Share those tender shoots.”
Perhaps it feels good to leave the knuckle dragging, hunched over, always focused on the ground posture behind. To stand tall and straight, to breathe in the fresh breeze, and feel the freedom of uninhibited motion.
Gorillas, to put it politely, have not been known for the ‘cuteness’ of their faces like roly poly giant pandas, small koalas, and even the prickly hedgehog. King Kong has not helped the image either. So to see this gorilla, despite his face, emanate such joy is uplifting.
I read that his family was visible to the photographer but he chose to show the young creature alone which gives a greater sense of freedom, to me, than if the family were in the background. So here is another lesson in how Art is a shaping, selective force.
Nevertheless, I hope the gorilla had as much joy as is conveyed in the photo and to rephrase some words of Neil Young,
“Long may you dance,
Long may you dance
Gorillas can have fun.”
