sierraclub.org - sierra magazine - nov/dec 2012 - animal-families - animal families: gorilla mother and baby
Photography by Suzi Eszterhas | Text by Della Watson
Does this gorilla mother look relaxed? This shot is remarkable because mothers normally carry infants in the crook of their arm—a spot that protects the baby but makes it difficult to get a clear photograph of that tiny little face. Perhaps enjoying some sort of simian version of the "food coma," this mother has become so comfortable while eating that she's dropped her arm enough to allow Eszterhas to snap an intimate family portrait. "That baby's less than a week old," she says. "It's very difficult to photograph a newborn gorilla with their eyes open, because they're sleeping a lot. So that was a great moment where the baby was awake, and Mom is feeding and relaxed, and all the elements came together. Being at the right place at the right time is a huge part of this job."