It’s hardly surprising, but I can count the number of times one of my photos has been published on the fingers of one hand, and still have a finger free to stick up at all the arseholes that have stolen my shots.
I made several of the Indian national papers when I covered a round of the Indian National Rally, had some sailing photos published in Asia Pacific Boating and a few Polo shots dropped into polo magazines. Finally it was back to India where the India Times kindly decided to use one of my photos without asking me.
So I was highly excited, although not in a sexual way, when I received an email from the editor of Ranger Rick Jr.magazine, published by the National Wildlife Federation. The National Wildlife Federation eh, that’s a step up from Polo Today; although Ranger Rick Jr. did not sound very inspiring.
Never mind, their heading said they were looking for a photo of a Feather Caterpillar I had taken. This was a surprise, because I was not aware I had taken a photo of a Feather Caterpillar; but as I have no idea as to the species of any of the bugs I have shot; so how would I know? I would just have to write back and ask the editor who was no doubt an expert on all manner of wildlife.
I read the rest of his mail, and my heart sank.
“I am trying to reach the photographer behind the blog at pattayadaze.wordpress.com, and I was hoping maybe that was your blog, and if not, maybe you could point me in the right direction?”
Bugger. I though of writing back and telling him that the owner of Pattayadaze had been killed in a freak accident involving a cement mixer and would he instead like a shot of a polo pony with all four legs in the air; but eventually I forwarded the mail to Ian and waited for the inevitable response. It was not long in coming and could be summarised as gloating.
“I expect they will make me a Fellow of the National Wildlife Federation. I suppose that autograph hunters and reporters will just be a part of my new life. However I shall try not to let this new found fame affect me. I shall probably keep the same friends.”
However, his glee was to be short lived. He also had no idea what a feather caterpillar looked like, so mailed the editor who referenced back to this*:
It is, of course, a photo of a feather; something that anyone apart from the editor of a National Wildlife Fund magazine could spot. Next time I go out macro shooting I will take a feather and some super-glue. If I find a caterpillar I might have something I can sell to this editor after all. Failing which, I will try and sell him a bridge. Meanwhile Ian (not FNWF), has gone strangely quiet.
*Image used with permission (sort of). Unless otherwise stated, copyright and all intellectual property rights related to this image e are the property of Pattatdaze, its parent, affiliates and associates and are protected under applicable Thai and International laws. Any infringement shall be vigorously defended and pursued to the fullest extent permitted by law. You fuckers.
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2013-12-18| Andrew saysSurprised he didn’t also ask for photos of the " Bottle Cap Caterpillar" and the " Barbed Wire Caterpillar " as well….