photo ©anneberry
It is hard to convey with words the emotional reaction to a photograph. I often struggle to express in writing a statement of the vision behind my photographs. The inspiration for many of my photographs relates to a childhood experience or memory even though I might not realize it at the time. My photographs form a connection to my subconscious world, but I hope they also contain a universal significance so that the viewer, too, feels an emotional reaction. This photograph of a Mandrill (taken at Artis in Amsterdam) illustrates how memory influences my passion to photograph animals. This subject attracted me, and after I printed this image it gave me an elusive feeling that it was familiar. Gradually, I remembered the following story. I guess the story contained an illustration or description that reminded me of this monkey, perhaps his expression or the way he holds his hand. I am sure the memory of the story or the experience of having it read to me contributes to the emotional attraction I have for this image.
This fable teaches lessons about friendship, honesty, loyalty, and trust. Here is how I remember the story:
The Monkey and the Crocodile
Once there was a monkey who lived in a tree on the bank of a river. A crocodile lived in the river. The monkey would throw down fruit from the tree for him to eat, and the crocodile and the monkey became friends. The crocodile's wife became jealous of this friendship and pretended to be sick, telling her husband that only eating the heart of a monkey could cure her. The crocodile was very sad, but he tricked his friend, telling the monkey that he would carry him to the other side of the river where the fruit was sweeter. Half-way across the river the crocodile revealed his plan to the monkey.
"Oh," said the monkey, "you should have told me! I will be glad to give your wife my heart, but I always leave it in my tree!"
The crocodile returned the monkey safely to his tree.
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