Kangaroo and Joey

Kangaroo and Joey - Photographed in a wildlife preserve, Australia
Stealth.  The art of not being seen - or in this case being seen but not being a threat.  You can tell from the image that the Joey is aware of my presence; it is looking right at me.  The mother is also aware, but is not threatened.  Both can leave any time - the Joey was out of the pouch earlier and later on the mob (name for a group of kangaroos) disappeared into the evergreens behind.  Yet they stayed because they were not threatened.  Free to be photographed, not harassed.
You only get this kind of shot through trust.  OK, a good long lens helps, and we will throw in a good dose of luck to boot, but if there is no trust on behalf of the quarry you will not get the shot.  These kangaroos lived on a game preserve; they could up and disappear at will but did not.  They were comfortable enjoying the outdoors, the occasional sunny break, and the grass (sounds like a Canadian camper smoking marijuana, doesn't it).  But trust is earned.
Trust and stealth.  It takes both to get close enough to photograph something without disturbing it.  Both require slow movements,  time to pause, and feigning disinterest.  The organism must believe that you are not a threat.  Within trust is also built upon by experience.  People are everywhere and their behaviours are constantly being monitored by the wild things out there.  If people respect Nature then her organisms learn trust and we can enjoy their presence.  People behaving poorly erodes trust and being successfully stealthy becomes much more difficult.
This comes down once again to a few ruining it for us all.  If people can be trusted the environment will respond in kind.  Being one with the universe is easier if you're not being the one being unruly.  Everyone benefits from good environmental behaviour, and we all suffer from those that are bad.  Do everybody a favour, and be good.

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