ADVERTISEMENT

Andrey Gudkov is a Russian wildlife photographer who takes frequent expeditions to the most distant and dangerous Indonesian and African regions such as Borneo, Zambia, and Rinca Island. All to capture wild animals living in their natural habitat—a view which, due to modern life, has become exotic to our eyes. Through his photography, Gudkov tries to convey the beauty and importance of these animals as many of them are becoming endangered.

More info: Instagram | wildanimalssafari.com

RELATED:

    In order to chase his dreams and become a wildlife photographer, Gudkov had to wait for the moment to come. That moment was when the Soviet Union crashed and he was able to travel freely. "For me, it all began with the television programs of David Attenborough’s films, and the rare BBC nature programs that were shown on Soviet television many years ago. And when, at the end of the eighties, I first held a copy of National Geographic in my hands, it was a culture shock for me. The photographs dazzled, drew you in, seemed so fantastic and unreal. These shots were my pathway into a fairy tale where a simple Soviet man could hardly hope to end up. Such dreams of far-off countries and exotic animals really got into my head. And as soon as there appeared the opportunity to travel freely and acquire professional equipment, realizing that dream became a reality,” says Andrey Gudkov to Bored Panda.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    The artist says that he always knew that he wanted to be a wildlife photographer. He was inspired by many famous wildlife photographers, which taught him the craft through textbooks. “I never had to ask myself what genre of photography I should shoot. I already knew that wildlife photography was the genre of photography where I had always wanted to work. My textbooks were the photo albums of world-famous wildlife photographers: Steve Bloom, Franz Lanting, Michael Poliza, and others. Their works inspired me, taught me, and gave me space for creative work; they served as my critics. Little by little, step by step, through trial and error, I worked out my own unique style. In the beginning, it all seemed simple and easy to understand. But the more I shot, the more I realized how difficult the genre was and how endless the opportunities were for creative work in it.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    He says that wildlife photography is extremely difficult as the photographer has to have special preparation and a lot of patience, not to mention financial investments in photo equipment and twelve to fifteen working hours in not-so-perfect working conditions. “Professional wildlife photography is a very complicated, specific genre of photography, demanding from the photographer special preparation and a special temperament, especially when shooting wildlife in their natural habitat. It also means considerable financial investment in photo equipment and technology, and dealing with endless bureaucratic procedures when organizing expeditions: long correspondences with officials and the directorships of national parks, purchases of licenses for photo shooting, etc. Apart from that, a wildlife photographer must possess very special knowledge about his subject; otherwise all the colossal efforts in organizing the expedition might go to waste. You must go armed with great patience and caution, because professionally photographing an animal without giving it serious thought is almost impossible. At times, you end up having to spend six or seven months getting ready for an expedition where you’ll only have three or four shooting days. The workday can be as long as twelve to fifteen hours. Be prepared for poor living conditions and a camping-style life: dirt, dust, rain, scorching sun, and traumas will be your unavoidable companions.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    And if you spend a long time shooting in the tropics, then a whole bouquet of tropical diseases is practically guaranteed. And when you wake up at four AM several days in a row and realize that you have to go another fifteen kilometers through rain-drenched tropical forests in almost 100% humidity, carrying equipment that weighs twenty kilograms for the sake of a few shots (and sometimes just for a single one), ask yourself one question: 'Do I need this?' If the answer is negative, don’t torture yourself and those around you; after all, in the first stages of work, disappointment will be more common than success.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Gudkov believes that there are no beautiful or ugly animals as the success of the photo depends on the photographer’s attempt to find something human-like in each animal. “So what’s the secret to success in photographing animals? There are no beautiful or ugly animals. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to find something human in the animal and to attempt to convey this through your photograph. The eyes of an animal are a very important detail; they speak to its character and help us to understand it. Amazement and fear, tenderness and care, wrath, indifference, perplexity… all these qualities are intrinsic in the inhabitants of the natural world. The photographer’s mission is to recognize this and convey it to the viewer.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Eagle Girl
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow! Can you imagine the waiting to get this perfect family portrait? Professional can't get that shot when people pay.

    View more commentsArrow down menu

    It’s important to understand that these animals are in great danger of becoming extinct due to our current living conditions. The artist says that each wildlife photographer’s mission is to show people that these animals are disappearing. “Over the past few years, I’ve visited many remote spots on our planet where nature still preserves its primordial beauty, untouched by omnipresent technical progress and globalization. Such places are so wild and impassable that tourists prefer not to go there. In such places, money has no value. And that’s a condition that has allowed many animals to stay safe there. But the world around us is changing catastrophically fast and a wildlife photographer’s mission is to attempt to show and impress upon people the disappearing, rare beauty and multiplicity of life forms that modern humanity can still meet with in the world.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Eagle Girl
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Zazu! How many times have I told you not to wander away from The Pridelands?

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #19

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Dynein
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fun fact: Giraffes fight their (sexual) rivals using their necks. It's nowadays believed that that's the reason for their long necks, because studies showed that long necks don't provide an advantage for getting higher amounts of food.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #23

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Demongrrrrl
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Did you see what she's wearing today! How shocking!" (2 gossipy old ladies being judgmental)

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #29

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
    Unlimited content
    Ad-free browsing
    Dark mode
    #32

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #35

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kim Bush
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gorgeous creature, sadly that's why they are so endangered now. Humans see something beautiful and they must possess it, instead of appreciating it for what it is and leaving it in peace.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #41

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Dawn Ours
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    look for the bear necessities forget about your worries and your strife

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #47

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Eagle Girl
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't talk back to your mother! I'm trying to get some rest!

    #49

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #59

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Chewie Baron
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a moth, you can tell with its antenna. Butterflies antenna are very thin whilst moths are like combs.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #60

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #63

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #66

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #67

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kim Bush
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They have the worst reputation, but they are some of the best mothers

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #68

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #71

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Dennis Stanley
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The swelling from the bite is expected to go down in a day or two.

    #72

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #75

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #76

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #78

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Kim Bush
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every giraffe has a specific pattern. Imagine trying to identify each one out of a large herd. Excedrin time

    #80

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #81

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #85

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    #87

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #88

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #90

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #92

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #93

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #94

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #97

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #99

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #100

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #101

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #102

    This Russian Photographer Travels To Dangerous Places To Show The Beauty Of Wildlife

    gudkovandrey Report

    Add photo comments
    POST