what got me interested in insects well my parents report that I was watching
my parents report that I was watching
my parents report that I was watching ants when I was in diapers so I don’t
ants when I was in diapers so I don’t
ants when I was in diapers so I don’t really recall the first moments but I
really recall the first moments but I
really recall the first moments but I was always there and supposedly I could
was always there and supposedly I could
was always there and supposedly I could identify and I knew each individual ant
identify and I knew each individual ant
identify and I knew each individual ant by her name so I would say that one’s
by her name so I would say that one’s
by her name so I would say that one’s Fred and Peter and Sally and Sue and
Fred and Peter and Sally and Sue and
Fred and Peter and Sally and Sue and I’ve completely forgotten their
I’ve completely forgotten their
I’ve completely forgotten their individual name I can’t tell them apart
individual name I can’t tell them apart
individual name I can’t tell them apart that well anymore but as a kid I
that well anymore but as a kid I
that well anymore but as a kid I apparently knew every hand I was a
apparently knew every hand I was a
apparently knew every hand I was a graduate student I came to Harvard to
graduate student I came to Harvard to
graduate student I came to Harvard to send the other yo Wilson I didn’t really
send the other yo Wilson I didn’t really
send the other yo Wilson I didn’t really understand what Harvard was about and it
understand what Harvard was about and it
understand what Harvard was about and it was like a lot of like tension and like
was like a lot of like tension and like
was like a lot of like tension and like nervous people and super egos and so
nervous people and super egos and so
nervous people and super egos and so forth and I wanted to get out of there
forth and I wanted to get out of there
forth and I wanted to get out of there kind of super fast so I passed my oral
kind of super fast so I passed my oral
kind of super fast so I passed my oral exams and get money to go to Asia and I
exams and get money to go to Asia and I
exams and get money to go to Asia and I realized if I went over there and looked
realized if I went over there and looked
realized if I went over there and looked for all these great stories the stories
for all these great stories the stories
for all these great stories the stories that I wanted to find of all these ants
that I wanted to find of all these ants
that I wanted to find of all these ants and creatures that people might think I
and creatures that people might think I
and creatures that people might think I was sitting around smoking something
was sitting around smoking something
was sitting around smoking something with a guru somewhere making stuff up
with a guru somewhere making stuff up
with a guru somewhere making stuff up unless I could document somehow so I got
unless I could document somehow so I got
unless I could document somehow so I got a book on how to photograph supermodels
a book on how to photograph supermodels
a book on how to photograph supermodels and figured out that you needed a main
and figured out that you needed a main
and figured out that you needed a main light a fill light and a hair light and
light a fill light and a hair light and
light a fill light and a hair light and with these three lights you can get a
with these three lights you can get a
with these three lights you can get a kind of a studio effect that’s quite
kind of a studio effect that’s quite
kind of a studio effect that’s quite beautiful so my aunt’s have a nice hair
beautiful so my aunt’s have a nice hair
beautiful so my aunt’s have a nice hair light so the hairs a sweetly backlit and
light so the hairs a sweetly backlit and
light so the hairs a sweetly backlit and it gives them a like nice dimensionality
it gives them a like nice dimensionality
it gives them a like nice dimensionality and also separates them from their
and also separates them from their
and also separates them from their background and all kinds of things so
background and all kinds of things so
background and all kinds of things so all you have to do is build this studio
all you have to do is build this studio
all you have to do is build this studio into the front of your camera and carry
into the front of your camera and carry
into the front of your camera and carry it around with you so I figured that out
Patience’s of course important and you
Patience’s of course important and you have to be able to be in one place no
have to be able to be in one place no
have to be able to be in one place no matter what it is in nature for a long
matter what it is in nature for a long
matter what it is in nature for a long period of time and it’s kind of ironic
period of time and it’s kind of ironic
period of time and it’s kind of ironic because living in New York with all the
because living in New York with all the
because living in New York with all the action activity and then you go to the
action activity and then you go to the
action activity and then you go to the jungle and you’re sometimes just sitting
jungle and you’re sometimes just sitting
jungle and you’re sometimes just sitting there and utter quiet and not hearing a
there and utter quiet and not hearing a
there and utter quiet and not hearing a human voice for days as you’re waiting
human voice for days as you’re waiting
human voice for days as you’re waiting for a flower to unfold or a snake to and
for a flower to unfold or a snake to and
for a flower to unfold or a snake to and coil but when the moment happened to
coil but when the moment happened to
coil but when the moment happened to have it in reality you have the truth
have it in reality you have the truth
have it in reality you have the truth you have the truth of that moment and
you have the truth of that moment and
you have the truth of that moment and people respect that I mean it’s easily
people respect that I mean it’s easily
people respect that I mean it’s easily some of these things are easily faked
some of these things are easily faked
some of these things are easily faked and you see fakes all the time but the
and you see fakes all the time but the
and you see fakes all the time but the true moment is a distinct thing and the
true moment is a distinct thing and the
true moment is a distinct thing and the the movement even of an ant has a lot of
the movement even of an ant has a lot of
the movement even of an ant has a lot of action and emotion to it if you catch
action and emotion to it if you catch
action and emotion to it if you catch even an ant in its activity so that
even an ant in its activity so that
even an ant in its activity so that difference is what makes National
difference is what makes National
difference is what makes National Geographic great because they go after
Geographic great because they go after
Geographic great because they go after these true moments how did I earn the
these true moments how did I earn the
these true moments how did I earn the nickname Indiana Jones of entomology
nickname Indiana Jones of entomology
nickname Indiana Jones of entomology well I I guess I get in a lot of battles
well I I guess I get in a lot of battles
well I I guess I get in a lot of battles with small critters so one way or
with small critters so one way or
with small critters so one way or another I tracked them down and I
another I tracked them down and I
another I tracked them down and I actually have never really been
actually have never really been
actually have never really been seriously bitten by anything
seriously bitten by anything
seriously bitten by anything surprisingly uh most small creatures
surprisingly uh most small creatures
surprisingly uh most small creatures respect me I like to thank and I know
respect me I like to thank and I know
respect me I like to thank and I know how to approach them and handle them
how to approach them and handle them
how to approach them and handle them without hurting them or getting hurt in
without hurting them or getting hurt in
without hurting them or getting hurt in return so one way or another I just kind
return so one way or another I just kind
return so one way or another I just kind of like it’s it’s a skill I have had
of like it’s it’s a skill I have had
of like it’s it’s a skill I have had from my agent diapers watching ants this
from my agent diapers watching ants this
from my agent diapers watching ants this is a capacity to to deal with insects
is a capacity to to deal with insects
is a capacity to to deal with insects and and understand their world and get
and and understand their world and get
and and understand their world and get down to their level and see them from
down to their level and see them from
down to their level and see them from their own level where they tower over
their own level where they tower over
their own level where they tower over you where they’re impressive creatures
well was fairly worried about the Frog
well was fairly worried about the Frog as well because it’s a it’s a kind of a
as well because it’s a it’s a kind of a
as well because it’s a it’s a kind of a long story I can tell bits of it but to
long story I can tell bits of it but to
long story I can tell bits of it but to get to this frog you have to fly through
get to this frog you have to fly through
get to this frog you have to fly through a tiny port city and then rent a boat
a tiny port city and then rent a boat
a tiny port city and then rent a boat and go up a river and it’s quite
and go up a river and it’s quite
and go up a river and it’s quite elaborate and very few people have ever
elaborate and very few people have ever
elaborate and very few people have ever done
done
done so we arrived at this small town rented
so we arrived at this small town rented
so we arrived at this small town rented a boat tried to go upriver and the water
a boat tried to go upriver and the water
a boat tried to go upriver and the water was too low and a rental boat the
was too low and a rental boat the
was too low and a rental boat the couldn’t get up with this engine and we
couldn’t get up with this engine and we
couldn’t get up with this engine and we were dropped off by the side of the
were dropped off by the side of the
were dropped off by the side of the river by someone who is probably a drug
river by someone who is probably a drug
river by someone who is probably a drug smuggler who was very angry that we
smuggler who was very angry that we
smuggler who was very angry that we would didn’t pay him the whole amount to
would didn’t pay him the whole amount to
would didn’t pay him the whole amount to go the whole way and we worked our way
go the whole way and we worked our way
go the whole way and we worked our way to an Indian village and get a dugout
to an Indian village and get a dugout
to an Indian village and get a dugout canoe through some drinking of rice wine
canoe through some drinking of rice wine
canoe through some drinking of rice wine and lots of negotiations over the next
and lots of negotiations over the next
and lots of negotiations over the next day and we got this dugout canoe and we
day and we got this dugout canoe and we
day and we got this dugout canoe and we had to drag it up river for two days
had to drag it up river for two days
had to drag it up river for two days because the water was so low I had to
because the water was so low I had to
because the water was so low I had to wear shorts and my skin I’m a pale pasty
wear shorts and my skin I’m a pale pasty
wear shorts and my skin I’m a pale pasty guy and so I got sunburned so bad on my
guy and so I got sunburned so bad on my
guy and so I got sunburned so bad on my legs that I had these huge blisters so
legs that I had these huge blisters so
legs that I had these huge blisters so by the time I got to the frogs in this
by the time I got to the frogs in this
by the time I got to the frogs in this remote village I could barely walk I had
remote village I could barely walk I had
remote village I could barely walk I had to walk like Frankenstein on stiff legs
to walk like Frankenstein on stiff legs
to walk like Frankenstein on stiff legs and so we got to the frogs and I was
and so we got to the frogs and I was
and so we got to the frogs and I was worried because if the frogs touched me
worried because if the frogs touched me
worried because if the frogs touched me they can potentially kill a person
they can potentially kill a person
they can potentially kill a person so I basically covered myself with
so I basically covered myself with
so I basically covered myself with plastic and I imbecile enveloped my legs
plastic and I imbecile enveloped my legs
plastic and I imbecile enveloped my legs with plastic and my assistant who is a
with plastic and my assistant who is a
with plastic and my assistant who is a part-time male stripper from Panama was
part-time male stripper from Panama was
part-time male stripper from Panama was quite a character
quite a character
quite a character he was a big meaty guy who could who was
he was a big meaty guy who could who was
he was a big meaty guy who could who was very strong and liked to show off and so
very strong and liked to show off and so
very strong and liked to show off and so because I couldn’t move my legs he would
because I couldn’t move my legs he would
because I couldn’t move my legs he would lower me to the ground and in front of
lower me to the ground and in front of
lower me to the ground and in front of the Frog which would stop start hopping
the Frog which would stop start hopping
the Frog which would stop start hopping towards me and I would take the pictures
towards me and I would take the pictures
towards me and I would take the pictures and he would pick me up and move me away
and he would pick me up and move me away
and he would pick me up and move me away so that the Frog couldn’t touch me
so that the Frog couldn’t touch me
so that the Frog couldn’t touch me so I managed the Frog pictures with this
so I managed the Frog pictures with this
so I managed the Frog pictures with this technique well answer serious fighters
technique well answer serious fighters
technique well answer serious fighters you know the Bible says go to the ant
you know the Bible says go to the ant
you know the Bible says go to the ant thou sluggard consider her ways and be
thou sluggard consider her ways and be
thou sluggard consider her ways and be wise and I don’t know if the Solomon
wise and I don’t know if the Solomon
wise and I don’t know if the Solomon King Solomon was referring to their
King Solomon was referring to their
King Solomon was referring to their fighting skills he was probably
fighting skills he was probably
fighting skills he was probably referring more to the fact that they
referring more to the fact that they
referring more to the fact that they saved their food for periods of where
saved their food for periods of where
saved their food for periods of where they were hungry and they were you know
they were hungry and they were you know
they were hungry and they were you know careful about
careful about
careful about the way they organize their lives in
the way they organize their lives in
the way they organize their lives in other ways but ants first and foremost
other ways but ants first and foremost
other ways but ants first and foremost for most people are fighters because
for most people are fighters because
for most people are fighters because when they see us they are willing to be
when they see us they are willing to be
when they see us they are willing to be kamikazes and ant is willing to die for
kamikazes and ant is willing to die for
kamikazes and ant is willing to die for the cause all the time and there’s even
the cause all the time and there’s even
the cause all the time and there’s even an ant in Borneo that will blow up this
an ant in Borneo that will blow up this
an ant in Borneo that will blow up this whole body will blow up so it’s a
whole body will blow up so it’s a
whole body will blow up so it’s a literal kamikaze suicide bomber ant when
literal kamikaze suicide bomber ant when
literal kamikaze suicide bomber ant when it touches an enemy and Peru I
it touches an enemy and Peru I
it touches an enemy and Peru I accidentally set on the most lethal
accidentally set on the most lethal
accidentally set on the most lethal snake in the Americas which is the fare
snake in the Americas which is the fare
snake in the Americas which is the fare to Lance and I would not recommend doing
to Lance and I would not recommend doing
to Lance and I would not recommend doing this but I if you do do this you should
this but I if you do do this you should
this but I if you do do this you should do it correctly you shouldn’t sit
do it correctly you shouldn’t sit
do it correctly you shouldn’t sit exactly as I did straight on a Ted and I
exactly as I did straight on a Ted and I
exactly as I did straight on a Ted and I apparently compress its head down so
apparently compress its head down so
apparently compress its head down so wasn’t able to to bite me back but the
wasn’t able to to bite me back but the
wasn’t able to to bite me back but the whole thing I should clarify was an
whole thing I should clarify was an
whole thing I should clarify was an error and I don’t think the snake
error and I don’t think the snake
error and I don’t think the snake enjoyed it any more than I did how do I
enjoyed it any more than I did how do I
enjoyed it any more than I did how do I protect myself when I’m in the field I
protect myself when I’m in the field I
protect myself when I’m in the field I don’t know I I never have troubles in
don’t know I I never have troubles in
don’t know I I never have troubles in the field for some reason I seem to be
the field for some reason I seem to be
the field for some reason I seem to be unnatural for what I do I’m rarely
unnatural for what I do I’m rarely
unnatural for what I do I’m rarely bitten by anything I don’t get sick I’ve
bitten by anything I don’t get sick I’ve
bitten by anything I don’t get sick I’ve been with people who’ve gotten various
been with people who’ve gotten various
been with people who’ve gotten various diseases and so forth but I never get
diseases and so forth but I never get
diseases and so forth but I never get sick and so in a way for me it’s more
sick and so in a way for me it’s more
sick and so in a way for me it’s more natural than New York City I am much
natural than New York City I am much
natural than New York City I am much more likely to get lost or make a wrong
more likely to get lost or make a wrong
more likely to get lost or make a wrong term in new more kitty than I am in
term in new more kitty than I am in
term in new more kitty than I am in Borneo
”
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