Species: Mountain Gorilla | Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. As for many, the privilege to witness the Mountain Gorillas in their natural surroundings had been a long time dream that finally became a reality in 2019. On this particular day, we were fortunate to be treated to the sight of this majestic Silverback. Even though we were observing him from a respectful distance, following the strict protocols put in place to protect these gentle giants and enforced by the knowledgeable guides, part of me felt a bit intrusive. Yet the stark reality is that these gentle giants that share 98.25% of our DNA would in all likelihood be extinct, was it not for tourism that provides locals with incentives to protect this incredible species.
About The Photographer
Born and raised in Venezuela by German parents, Fritz grew up in a country with some of the most varied, spectacular landscapes and diverse cultures. From and early age, his parents instilled in him a deep love, respect, and curiosity for nature. Having traveled and photographed on all seven continents, his portfolio contains a vast array of landscapes, wildlife, people, abstracts as well as intimate landscape scenes. Fritz strives for his images to grab the viewers attention, evoking emotions, and invite the viewer to feel like they experienced the moment and the place where the photo was taken. He hopes his work brings about more appreciation for the incredible natural beauty we are so privileged to enjoy on this planet, and raises awareness of why it is so important to protect and take care of nature. His work has been published in several printed as well as online magazines, such as National Geographic, Arizona Highways, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Forbes, bioGraphic, Epsiloon (France), Outdoor Magazyn (Poland), PetaPixel, and others. His work has also been published in several international books, including the recently published National Geographic book, “The World From Above”, by Jeffrey Kerby. Fritz lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, John, and their two dogs.Follow J Fritz on Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/fritzrumpf/
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