Predator: A Photo Essay

​

The Predator photo essay was taken at various zoos, nature science centers and societies in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. This series is about capturing not only the beauty of these animals, but to get an even closer look at them. My goal is to use my camera like Alice’s rabbit hole, to open an unexplored world, and to use it as a place of self-expression. So, since these animals are so fierce, and prey on others for food one can never get that close with them, but this series allows the viewer to get up close and personal with these hunters, and really see their true beauty. Using a telephoto lens the viewer can see the texture within the fur, feathers, and really get close up with these predator animals, and gain appreciation that otherwise some might fear.
This series started as a series about being up close and personal with nature in general, but once I started taking pictures of the owls, I realized that the fierce and intense expressions I was capturing could really tell a story and evoke feeling with the viewer. As the series progressed the photographs started to capture depression within the predator eyes. These animals are supposed to be fearless and intense, but sometimes their emotions read as sad and depressed. I hope that my acquired appreciation of these beautiful animals is passed onto the viewer.

​

all images ©Mik's Piks: Photography by Mikayla Smith | Clients, feel free to tag and share, but please do not crop or alter in any way. If you like these images, please consider "liking" Mik's Piks: Photography by Mikayla Smith | Thank you!