My photography skills were really put to the test on this one.
Don’t get me wrong, this was paradise. Bako National Park is a natural wonder. Only accessible by boat, it contains idyllic beaches on the edges of dense Bornean jungle, with immense rock faces and stunning turquoise water to match – a photographer’s dream.
The only issue came in the form of a highly territorial monkey.
The vantage point from where this shot was taken is fiercely guarded by a miserable long-tailed macaque who spends his days chasing anyone that happens to stumble by.
Determination paid off though, and I’m quite happy with how the photograph turned out.
For anyone wanting to re-create this image, the instructions are as follows:
- Wait until the monkey is busy chasing another naive tourist
- Run up to the edge of the cliff
- Frame your shot and adjust your camera settings (you’ll have approximately five seconds before the monkey notices you)
- Capture your image
- Run away from the approaching monkey
- Repeat steps 1-5 until you get the perfect photograph, or are bitten by the monkey
- If the monkey bites you, seek medical attention immediately
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Bako National Park, Borneo