40 Wildlife Photographers Who Got Ambushed By Their Subjects In Hilarious Ways

Is there any photographer who has it tougher than wildlife photographers?

They travel to remote locations, from the freezing Arctic to sweltering jungles, hide for hours on end, and wait patiently for the perfect moment to capture an animal in its element. And perhaps the hardest part? They’re not supposed to interact with their subjects.

But sometimes, that rule goes out the window—thanks to the animals themselves. Curious and cheeky critters often decide to check out the strange humans with cameras, trying to figure out what’s going on or even attempting to take over as photographers themselves.

Granted, it’s a lot less fun when it’s a lion instead of a deer, but hey, still worth it.

#1 Nuka At The Age Of 5 Weeks. An Abandoned Wild Wolf Cub, Found In Early May In The Bavarian Forest

#2 My Friend’s Dad Told Me To Go For A Walk With Him In The Wilderness

#3 Great Grey Owl Lands On Wildlife Photographer’s Camera

Not getting in the way of nature is wildlife photography 101.

But imagine seeing a fluffy, friendly monkey just an arm’s length away. How do you resist the urge to reach out?

Well, you have to. It’s part of the job. And those who break this rule often pay the price.

#4 Meerkats Being Friendly With A Wildlife Photographer

#5 Press The Button

#6 Monkey Steals Camera From Photographer To Snap Himself A Selfie

Take Nancy Black, a U.S. marine biologist who fed killer whales while filming in 2004.

She was later fined $12,500 and placed on three years’ probation for luring the whales closer to her boat in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

#7 Me Trying To Photograph A Penguin

#8 Oh Deer

#9 She Analyzes Her Photoshoot

Even if you don’t lure animals, bending the truth for a perfect shot can land you in hot water. In wildlife photography, no one’s handing out awards for Photoshop skills.

José Luis Rodriguez lost his Natural History Museum Photographer of the Year award after passing off what was likely a tame wolf as a wild one.

National Geographic photographer Gilles Nicolet faced backlash for staging a photo on ivory poaching using tusks borrowed from authorities.

Even David Attenborough faced criticism for narration that implied a polar bear den filmed in a zoo was actually in the wild.

#10 Thought My Lens Was Acting Out Because Of The Blurry, Until I Zoomed Out. Greatest Photobomb Ever

#11 Adorable

#12 Blocked By An Arctic Fox In The North Pole

Wildlife photography is a fine line you have to walk if you want to do it seriously.

Of course, beyond the laws protecting endangered species and the ethical guidelines in place, photographers do have creative freedom in how they bring their visions to life.

“Organizations may have their own guidelines [consider the BBC’s, for example], but there is a lot of variation in what’s considered acceptable,” professional wildlife filmmaker and photographer Jeff Hogan told National Geographic.

“That’s true among photographers, too—ethics vary widely. Plus, a lot of it depends on what you are trying to do with your work.”

If you’re filming a documentary, certain standards apply that might not be as strict when you’re creating a piece “based on a true story” or simply capturing a beautiful moment to hang on your wall.

#13 The Day My Heart Melted

#14 Beautiful Shot

#15 Where Is That Button?

Then there’s the patience. Lots of it.

“Basically, I wait,” is how Michel d’Oultremont, Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2018, described his work to Vice.

To capture that one perfect frame, d’Oultremont spent weeks alone in places like Japan’s Hokkaido, the Carpathian Mountains, and Yellowstone in the U.S.

Often hidden beneath branches, he stayed perfectly still for up to eight hours a day, blending into the landscape as he waited for wildlife to appear.

#16 Out Of Nowhere, A Cheeky Grey Squirrel Appeared, Looking Right At Us As If To Say, “Got Any Food?”

#17 This Little Thief Tried To Steal My Camera Bag, But Decided To Chew Off Part Of The Strap Instead

#18 Very Beautiful

Research and resourcefulness are also part of the craft. d’Oultremont, for instance, relies on tips from wildlife experts and forest rangers and scours Google Maps to find the best vantage points.

“I look up forest edges [where there’s usually more biodiversity], swamps and paths that animals might take. Plus it’s useful to pick the right spot for your lookout,” he explained.

#19 I Took A Picture Of A Baby Lion Playing With My Camera Strap

#20 Me And Myself

#21 Photobomb

And, of course, there’s the reality of expensive gear, unpredictable weather, long stretches alone with your thoughts, and animals that aren’t always as friendly as they look.

Yet when that moment finally arrives and you get the shot you’ve been working for, it’s worth every bit of the effort. Sharing these glimpses of the world as it is without us is a gift to everyone who gets to see it.

It’s a tough job, but it’s a rewarding one. So here’s to wildlife photographers and everything they’re willing to endure so we can witness the beauty of animals in their element.

#22 They Look Like Their Gossiping About Their Annoying Neighbours

#23 A Highly “Dangerous” Lemur Attack

#24 Where Are You Taking My Photos? Now I Have Your Camera

#25 Otter Fighting Me For My Camera

#26 Grey Rhebok Interaction With One Of The Remote Camera’s

#27 I’m Calling This One “Bird Photographer”

#28 Curious Baby Elephant Seals Check Out A Wildlife Photographer

#29 Sea Lions Truly Are The Dogs Of The Ocean. While I Was Photographing Them In The Galapagos, They Would Frequently Swim Around Me And Play With My Equipment