When I published yesterday’s post I noticed I had already written a December 2020 post entitled One Thing About Life. It was about a nature photographer who was assigned by the National Geographic to take pictures of a leopard seal.
The photographer almost said no because of the danger…leopard seals are huge and highly aggressive, but the photographer summoned up his courage and did it.
He was gobsmacked by how it turned out. The first thing the seal did was to take the photographer’s head and camera in its mouth, then when it let go it opened its mouth wide in a threat display. OK, that was scary, but not a big surprise. Then the seal caught a penguin and dropped it in front of the photographer, as if it were a gift. The photographer, of course, didn’t capture the penguin but let it swim away. The seal seemed surprised and tried a few more times. The human was a complete bust at catching penguins. So the seal tried bringing weak penguin, then a dead one, then a half-eaten one to give the photographer a chance to feed. No, the dumb photographer didn’t get it. So the seal tried putting penguins in the camera, thinking that was the photographer’s mouth. Apparently it was trying to nurture the “helpless” photographer by feeding it. The seal seemed to be worried.
This went on for four days, and it was understandably one of the highlights of the photographer’s life.
One thing about life, it sure can be unpredictable.
This story still warms my heart…I’m glad I looked!
March 16, 2022
Yikes!
😀
What a story!!! It has made my day!
😀
how amazing that man v beast can have significant outcomes if you’ve prepared to take the risk…
I am not that brave!
I’m not either!
Wonderful story and what an experience that must have been for the photographer.
Yes. 🙂
the cockles of my heart are now warmed enough to last the day. I LOVE THIS! what a beautiful seal and a funny/sweet story.. I missed it the first time, so glad you shared.
🙂
No matter what happens in life, he will have that to look back on!
Yes. 🙂
What a thrill! My heart is full to overflowing.
🙂
Fascinating!!! Such empathy the seal showed on that skinny photograper.
🙂
holy moly! what a story to have lived through!
I’m glad he got photos. the sheer Courage it took!
there is just no fathoming nature! XO
I know. 🙂