The Snow Monkey
Nagano. Japan . 2020
Some encounters remind us that we may not be as different from the natural world as we sometimes imagine.
In 2020, I travelled to Japan's famous Jigokudani Monkey Park, home to the Japanese macaques, often affectionately known as snow monkeys. Living in one of the coldest regions inhabited by non-human primates, they are well known for bathing in natural hot springs during winter. Watching them interact with one another was every bit as fascinating as the landscape itself. There were moments of playfulness, patience, curiosity and affection that felt remarkably familiar.
Perhaps that's why wildlife photography continues to captivate me. Beyond documenting animals, it reminds us that many of the behaviours we think of as uniquely human—family, community and connection—have always been part of the natural world. Looking back at these photographs, I'm reminded that sometimes the greatest joy in observing wildlife is recognising a little of ourselves within it.
