With an array of portraits documenting the human-like expressions of some of the world’s most charismatic primates, Danish zoologist and wildlife photographer Mogens Trolle led audiences at the sixth Xposure International Photography Festival on an intriguing journey into the jungles of Asia and Africa.
“It was after years of doing mammal research in South Africa that I decided to become a wildlife photographer with a mission to capture images and portraits of the vanishing world of primates,” said the lensman, detailing his interest in both the hard-to-find and unique primates located in deep jungles and snowy mountains across the globe.
“Primates are the only mammals that use their faces and eyes to make ‘micro-expressions’ - like humans. They have facial muscles like ours and that becomes a window to their inner world. You can see the feelings, moods, and the personalities of each individual,” he said, explaining why he chose to zoom in on primates for his project.
“If you’re lucky, you may even make eye contact. It’s these magical moments, when you get a glimpse of the animals' ‘personality’, that I try to capture in my pictures,” said Trolle, whose exhibition at Xposure showcased 25 portraits of 11 species of primates. The photographer, who has spent seven years on the project to showcase the intelligence and unique personalities of man’s closest relative has captured around 40,000 portraits of primates in their natural habitat ranging from the jungles of Gabon to Japan’s cold forests.
During his talk, Mogens wowed the audience with the diversity of intense facial expressions of the ‘bleeding heart monkey,’ the black macaque, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, the costume monkey, the dragon white snow monkey, and the shy, reclusive mandrill.
“Over the years, having observed and documented the primates at close quarters, (the experience) has given me the opportunity to spotlight unique characteristics like their intelligence, their interaction with the community, their complex social life, and more. Primates use the same facial expression muscles that humans do, which allows you to see a gamut of expressions around their eyes and lips,” Trolle stated.
Lamenting that more than 60 per cent of primate species are currently endangered due to human-induced factors like habitat destruction, hunting for food and illegal pet trading, the Danish wildlife photographer, said: “I hope that by documenting these vanishing primates, it will help people realise what amazing animals they are and why it would be an incredible loss if they were to disappear forever.”
