Photographer's Tiger Series Captures Intimate Portraits at Arizona Sanctuary

Key facts

• The series was created over six days at Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Sanctuary, with weeks between each visit.
• Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Sanctuary is located 45 minutes south of Flagstaff, Arizona.
• Brittney Olson oversees the park's large predators and is the keeper of the tigers.
• The photographer used Profoto studio lights to shape form, color, and texture.
• A non-negotiable rule was never to touch the animal.
• The photographer spent the first five to ten minutes sitting at the fence talking to each tiger before photographing.
• If an animal appeared disturbed or agitated, no photographs were taken that day.
• Some animals required three or four visits before the camera was introduced.
• The series avoided bared teeth because exposed teeth often signal fear or distress.
• The project was nearly a year in the making, involving research, meetings, practice, and learning.
• Brittney Olson wore Meta glasses to capture first-person footage for health and behavior review.
• Derek Jones produced all video for the series.
• The photographer was inspired by the audiobook 'The Tiger' and a U-2 spy plane flight at over 70,000 feet.
• The photographer's hometown is Flagstaff, Arizona.
• The photographer reached out to Brian Skerry about a shark project before shelving it.
• The photographer's late German Shepherd was named Riley.
• The photographer has dyslexia and credits Audible with helping his learning.
• The next series is already underway.