032 / / JANUARY 2017
t almost looks like this macaque monkey is giving
us a half-smile, Mona Lisa style. In fact, the poor
thing has indigestion, says Paul Williams, a
producer and director at the BBC’s Natural
History Unit. ‘He’s rummaging around a fire pit
for charcoal to eat, most likely in a bid to self-medicate. Charcoal
helps neutralise plant toxins.’
How do you get this close to a wild animal to capture such a
powerful portrait without spooking them? Or putting yourself in
danger? ‘The black macaques of Sulawesi are actually easy to
photograph. They’re used to people, inquisitive and expressive,’
Williams says. ‘The most important thing is to appear submissive.
Primates have a fiercely strong hierarchical system, so you need to
demonstrate to the male that you’re non-threatening. If you avoid eye
contact and stay low, they should accept your presence. I had a tense
moment here where he leapt on my back and jumped around. But I
waited calmly. Stayed still. He got off and carried on with his day,
allowing me to follow him.’ Keep an eye on your kit though, Williams
adds, laughing. ‘Primates are gadget fans. They’ll pinch your camera if
you give them half a chance.’He’s captured jaw-dropping close-ups of
macaques on Sulawesi and voyaged to
the remotest reaches of the planet.
Paul Williams sits down with usI
monkey
magic