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So, how did I get “into” photography, anyway? Well, the story starts with a tiger. And you just know a story is going to be good when it starts with a tiger…
And not just any tiger, either: a rare white Bengal tiger. Named Odin.
I met him back in 2004, with my old Canon Powershot A80 in hand. Streamlined, stubborn, and only four megapixels: the perfect portal to a world yet unknown. I’d never thought much about photography, only enough to know that I didn’t like to be in front of the camera. (So really, might as well be behind it.)
I was at Six Flags Marine World, which has since been upgraded (or downgraded?) to a Kingdom [of Discovery], and trainers were showing us the tigers’ unexpected love for water by throwing meat into the pool. Now, I’m not sure any of the cats I know would jump into the tub to get some tuna, but these were much more ambitious—and, it goes without saying, much larger—felines.
Odin looked right into my lens on his third dive. I was snap-happy! Too much so to realize the value of what I had just sealed to my memory stick. It wasn’t until I looked through the photos later that day that my stomach did a little handstand—that was pretty. freaking. cool!
What a unique display of power and agility, of ferocity and grace, of intimidation and beauty! Though really, Odin was having a great time and only scrunching his nose to keep the water out. And he looked much better for wear emerging gracefully from the water than my friend’s cats look after a bath…
As I found out much later, Odin is somewhat of an international sensation. He’s actually received quite a bit of attention for his underwater antics. My photo of him has…not quite reached that point. But, some exciting things have happened.
