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Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Jose Luis Rodriguez won a photo contest with a stunning photo of a wolf leaping a fence, captured in mid-air, in the middle of the night. A phenomenal look into a seemingly never-before-seen wild moment, the image earned Mr. Rodriquez the title of Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year from the British Natural History Museum. But now the authenticity of the moment is being called into question. What was initially regarded as a wild wolf, albeit one baited to return to the scene, is now being investigated as a tame animal raised in captivity. The contest didn’t specifically forbid captive animals, but it did specify that they must be declared and that judging preference would be given to images of wild animals. Now the judging panel will reconvene to determine the fate of the image and the winner of the contest. All of this discussion reinforces the idea that while photography can be an immensely free and creative medium, it still carries a different air of primacy—the idea that a photograph is more real or somehow more factual than other forms of visual imagery. All that means that sometimes the power of a photograph is directly tied to things far outside the frame—as it would be when comparing a photograph of a captive tame animal to one of a wild animal roaming free. It also serves as a reminder that misrepresenting your images is bound to lead to embarrassing attention—particularly if your misrepresentation is part of a prominent international competition.

independent.co.uk: environment/nature/too-good-to-be-true-museum-investigates-winning-photo

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