Comments on: Trekking with Sumatran Orangutans in Indonesia

By: Customer Service

Customer Service — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 18:30:44 +0000

Robert,

I don’t do any photo tours to this area, but the best place to go is the town of Bukit Lawang on the island of Sumatra. When in town, it is easy to find a guide to take you up into the forest to see orangutans, arrangements can be made through your hotel.

-Ian
Outdoor Photography Guide

By: Robert DeRepentigny

Robert DeRepentigny — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 09:44:21 +0000

Hi Ian, Do you do any workshop in this area ? If not, can you share a few details how to do a trip in this area ? Thanks.

By: Ian Plant

Ian Plant — Thu, 19 May 2016 12:15:33 +0000

In reply to Jens. Hi Jens, I didn't do anything particularly special while editing the photos, I just work hard to get things right in the field, being very picky about the composition and light when shooting photos.

By: Jens

Jens — Wed, 04 May 2016 23:13:40 +0000

I have come back from a trip to Borneo were I photographed orangutang among other animals. When i look at your photos I can see that there are a difference between the subspieces. One of my goals with my trip was to photograph clouded leopard. They are almost impossible but for me impossible so I have to go back again and try to find them. Did you do anything special during editing to get the photos so clean?

By: Vic

Vic — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 01:06:44 +0000

In reply to Ian Plant. From what I understand, not all males develop the large cheeks and it may be that only the dominant male in an area develops these. He/she is quite a specimen no matter what the sex and a great shot.

By: Ian Plant

Ian Plant — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 21:30:34 +0000

In reply to philip.

Hi Philip, I’m reasonably confident that he was in fact a male. Although I agree his cheek jowls are not as pronounced as some males (and because of the way he is positioned in the photo, they stand out even less), I photographed him every day for five day, he was at least twice as large as the females and had plenty of other male characteristics – he stood almost five feet tall, was considerably more shaggy than the females, and his face was completely different. And all the guides said he was a male. I admit, I am not a biology expert.

But as I said, I am not a biology expert, so if you have an expert opinion to offer, I’m all ears!

By: John Tobias

John Tobias — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 20:06:24 +0000

It is a male. They are very strong. When I was a zookeeper and cared for orangs one incident stands out as to their strength. When shifting the orangs in order to clean their enclosure the smaller females would try to keep me from closing the door securing them in a holding area. I was able to close the shift door using all my strength. However, the male using only 1 finger could keep me from closing the door! Outstanding photos.

By: philip

philip — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 03:29:46 +0000

The portrait of the big orangutan is actually a female, not male. The males have very pronounced cheek ‘Jowells’ that frame their face for a more aggressive look! This is a female.
Cheers

By: Dr Nasseem. Malouf

Dr Nasseem. Malouf — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 05:58:04 +0000

Nice work Ian. Would love to photograph these magnificent cousins and capture some of there human like gestures close up.

By: Phil green

Phil green — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:31:51 +0000

Orangutans are critically endangered across Indonesia. They deserve the full support of the photographic community to highlight their fragile grip on life. More from Ian and others is really needed. Ian’s shots are great but the fact he gave five days of his time to this cause deserves accolade. I live in Indonesia. Cheers