On a trip to the Serengeti, that commenced in Nairobi, we visited a giraffe sanctuary. We could walk among the giraffes, all of which had some disability so they couldn’t be released back into the wild. We were able to walk among them, but the sanctuary built a high platform where people could, so to speak, greet the giraffes on their level. Bing used to humans, the giraffes weren’t above looking for a handout, and then I captured this image. You could say that this was posed, and in a sense, it was, and not suitable for competition, but this is a study group, so I’d like your comments on the human image aspects of this image.
Gear: Olympus E-500, Zuiko 14-45mm open to 26mm
Data: ISO 125, f 4.3, 1/50sec.
Metering: pattern
White balance: Auto
EV = 0
Date: August 12, 2010
9 comments posted
Dr Isaac Vaisman
Alan, Under PSA's definition, Human Interest depicts people in an interactive, emotional, or unusual situation, excluding sports action. The woman feeding a giraffe shows human-animal interaction, and her smile adds emotion. the subject fits, but her looking directly at the camera gives it the appearance of a posed snapshot. If you captured her naturally feeding the giraffe, without directing her, it could qualify. If you asked her to turn, smile, for the photograph, it would not meet PSA's photojournalism requirements. Posted: 10/05/2026 12:34:14
Alan Lichtenstein
Isaac, I said in my description that the image could appear to be posed for competition. Given that, what I wanted was comments on the human interest aspects. Posted: 10/06/2026 07:01:31
Dr Isaac Vaisman
Alan, you did get the comments on the HI aspect..... Posted: 10/07/2026 15:15:06
Grisell Navas
Mr. Alan The feeling I get is that the woman is having a good time feeding the giraffe, the giraffe is happy!!! half of the picture is taken by the giraffe head, is interesting that the women is wearing some kind of animal print purse, I guess appropriate for a zoo...
I understand the zookeeper woman maybe ? needed maybe to be in the picture but I probably would have waiting for the man in the background to move away from the scenery you were capturing... It is a fun, happy day at a zoo!
Posted: 10/05/2026 15:25:32
Alan Lichtenstein
thanks for your comments. Posted: 10/06/2026 07:04:42
Ardeth Carlson
The fact that the woman is looking at the camera does not disqualify it from photojournalism, either HI or General. It is a real life situation and not a staged performance for the purpose of photographers. That said, for me the lack of interaction with the giraffe lessens emotional impact for someone who isn't related to the woman, and the two disinterested people included in the shot and lack of a setting make it feel like a snapshot rather than a composed picture. Posted: 10/05/2026 18:09:56
Alan Lichtenstein
thanks for your HI evaluation. Actually, the image was somewhat posed. But I appreciate your comments on the HI aspects of the image, posing and competition aspects aside. Posted: 10/06/2026 07:03:06
Vinaya Mathews
Sorry, Alan, but no fun in finding posed image in this group Posted: 10/07/2026 03:25:01
Alan Lichtenstein
Vinaya, I said in my description that the image could be considered posed. But that makes it ineligible for competition, which it would likely be, but this is a study group, not a competition. Given that admission, I had just asked for comments as an HI image the other issues aside. Posted: 10/07/2026 05:48:28
