Always arguing Photo

Photographer’s Note

In the monkey's world: always arguing and fighting

This is a hot-Tubbin' Nagano Style. This is the monkeys (macaques) of Nagano. The famous snow monkeys.

Just outside Nagano is the misnamed Hell Valley, a system of outdoor volcanic water pools built in 1966 to keep the Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) from using people's backyard hot tubs. Some 200 monkeys from three "troops" share the pools.

Macaque groups, called troops, have a strict hierarchy. An older male monkey with several male helpers rules a troop, deciding on where and when to migrate, as well as providing protection from other troops. Troops are composed of males and females of various ranks.

Males will move from troop to troop, but females will stay in their troop their whole life. Female rank is very important, as their babies will retain the hierarchical rank of their mother. Troops leaders have sometimes received their status due primarily to the position of their mother within the troop.

RAW picture turned sRGB for TE.

isabela_sor, avallaunius, Keitht, JCG, delkoo, Nolme, tomescuc, marion44 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

grantlp (2104) 2008-11-22 2:04

Hi Michel,
It's like Planet of the Apes....two large males challenging one another, while the female watches with interest. Colours are subtle with only their pink faces providing some real colour contrast. The rising steam adds good mood to the image. Well captured.
Cheers Grant

isabela_sor (42078) 2008-11-22 2:04 [Comment]

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burGu (4536) 2008-11-22 2:15

Hi Michel,
What a documemantary shot it is! Macaques on their very natural atmosphere, in interaction with each other, covered by mist, not aware of the camera.
It is so "natural" that, reminds me of the movie, "Planet of Apes", who is in control of whom...
Best regards,
Burcu

avallaunius (980) 2008-11-22 2:25

i remember these monkeys from baraka film
very good compo and colors
TFS

eversmile (6045) 2008-11-22 2:35

Salut Michel

La composition est très bonne, avec ce trio en face à face. On pense aisément à un bain dans une source d'eau chaude, avec toutes ces vapeurs et avec la belle teinte verte de l'eau, même sans lire ta note. les couleurs sont belles, et tu as su capturer ce moment décisif avec un bon timing. Avec la femelle en arbitre entre les rivaux, et donnant de la voix, l'image est forte. Bravo.
Amicalement
Marine

michelloupis (0) 2008-11-22 3:38

Hello Michel,

This is a superb shot. Beautifully processed. The red faces accentuate the exotic atmosphere of the composition and the water steam its mysteries. Great! Thanks for the note!

Have a nice weekend
Nuno

Keitht (1112) 2008-11-22 3:55

Great shot with fantastic level of detail throughout. Nice composition too. The mist/steam rising on the left prevents the monkey in the background being a distraction.
It looks like a couple of Sumo monkeys preparing with the referee (or whatever they call him) in the background.
I'm intrigued to know if this is an HDR image created from a single RAW exposure or not as there is a slightly unreal sense about it.

JCG (25207) 2008-11-22 4:17

Michel,

Je me régale dans ta gallerie que je ne suis pas venue voir depuis un moment... Je l'aime beaucoup aussi celle-ci, ça ressemble à nos débats politiques français, mais je pense qu'ici le dialogue doit être plus intéressant !!! Superbe traitement de l'image où cette vapeur crée une atmosphère bien particulière, ça chauffe quoi... Merci Michel.

Avec mes amitiés et à bientôt,

Jean-Charles

delkoo (34244) 2008-11-22 5:13

bonjour michel
ta série sur les singes est assez impressionnante, celle-ci est remarquable de part la disposition des trois macaques qui semblent discuter entre eux.

bien vu
didier

Faros (12) 2008-11-22 5:54

Salut Michel,
Cet endroit est magique et cette troïka "arguing and fighting" totalement surréaliste dans ce décor fumant et monochrome d'où ressortent les gueules rougies...

Phil.

Encore !

comanu (617) 2008-11-22 6:25

great picture. the trinity in the mokey world.

elkab (3326) 2008-11-22 8:22

Nice shot of animals Sumo. Fantastic level of details. I like colors and interesting contrasts: pink faces of monkeys, brown bodies, green of the water, brown of the rock and frogg from water. Fine work
Congratulations
ela

Nolme (5290) 2008-11-22 11:58

On sent bien la chaleur de l'eau dans ce cliché. Une trilogie de Pagnol en pleine discussion
Marie

tomescuc (2837) 2008-11-22 22:25

This is excellent. Very good framing of the 3 monkeys arguing, so hominid looking. A truly one of a kind place.
cheers,
Cristian

mirarer (4327) 2008-11-23 3:42

Hola Michel,
De nuevo otra gran captura y una imagen con mucha fuerza. Perfecta composición con los tres monos formando un triángulo y una impresionante atmósfera.
Saludos,
Mirari

marion44 (4258) 2009-03-10 2:07

Re,
Excellente cette photo façon salon de thé dans les bains chauds !!! Les singes s'en retrouvent personnalisés !
Marion

fkostas (426) 2009-03-19 15:48

Hi Michel,

I think this is a terrific photo. I like how the monkeys are arranged in a triangle, and the surreal effect of the steam. How funny to know the monkeys will use your hot tubs.

Farah