- Mark, where did you plan to set up a tent? – I've asked him during our trail to the clay lake hidden in the rainforest of Tambopata river. Before this journey, I noticed that he looked at my tent, where I used to live during my stay in Peruvian Amazonia, with a touch of envy. Later on, he explained that if he had a tent, he would pitch it here, in El Campo, to spend the night on the shore of this "marvelous" pool full of clay and mud.- Just here, of course! What a question?.. – Mark pointed to the deep slippery clay where I even not dare to tread.
Mark is a 25-year-old wildlife photographer. He is a freelancer, cooperates with Fauna Forever and conducts individual and group photo tours in Amazonia.
- But… What if peccary or, let say, a Jaguar, would not like my tent? Or, conversely, if they will like me inside of it?- Rot – replied he without a shadow of a doubt. – If you cover your tent by the mud, it will be looking like a part of the landscape, and they won’t smell you. Especially if you clay yourself, too. Just imagine, will have a chance to see all the animals in a step distance from you, and it will be incredible!
Mark was born in Britain, and during his childhood, he was ardently carried away by Kipling's Jungle Book. He had a dream to live as Mowgli, and he found a way that let him realize his dream. After he finished school he started to study photography in the Nottingham Trent University and began his career traveling to Botswana researching elephant migration. Later he moved to South America, where he has been living for five years.
At the sight of Mark, one can say that his dream became true far and away – he looks like mature Mowgli would have been looked like if he had never come to people. His t-shirt and shorts are always painted with mud, his neck is decorated with three teeth of unknown origin, his hair is tousled and his sparkling eyes burn with the desire of adventure.
Talking about photography equipment, I asked him:
- I was surprised to see a wildlife photographer without super-zoom. Have you ever use it?
- Almost no… I prefer to get to my model as close as possible – it is the only way I can make a good shoot.
- But if it is something dangerous?
- Especially if it is something dangerous! – was the reply. Come very close to something really dangerous and make a picture that has been never done – that is the challenge!
Wildlife photography is the only business of Mark, and all the money he spends to travel and equipment. Now he is going to accompany Dilan – handsome snake catcher from Canada – in his jungle adventure. They are going to survive in the rainforest for two weeks having nothing except hammocks and machete.
- Don't you know that nobody made a photo of how leopard gave birth, during the all the history of photography? Nobody in all the world, can you imagine? I feel that it is my mission...
After the long trail, Mark wanted to drink. Of course, flasks and bottles are not for Mowgli…
- How often do you catch a disease, Mark?
- I don’t know why, but quite rare… But I have a friend of mine, Patrick, he is a photographer as I. Not long ago he had malaria. He told that it was like flu, but a bit longer – so, nothing special.
I recalled the words of another, same crazy, photographer and traveler – Alexander Khimushin: "... You're alone in the dark with the wind blowing against you, crawling on top of a steep cliff, trying to secure a tripod to a rock lying on the edge. The ground beneath is heated by the volcano and the cracks on the surface hiss poisonous vapors, but nothing can stop you. You want to make this shot. This feeling can not be put into words, you wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. At this point, anything else just does not exist. You're simply obsessed. It's only later that you realize moments like this are worth traveling and worth living for! ..."
The genuine guys, I'm so happy that you still exist!