I recently went to the Jigokudani monkey park in Nagano, famous for its lazy macaque monkeys. They have earned their lazy stripes relaxing in hot springs, passing the cold winter in their own little monkey heaven. It was amazing to see. They are so used to human visitors they accept you into their troop, letting you get as close as you like. Maybe they are just too lazy to object. Either way, it’s an intriguing experience; human-like behaviour mimicking a little piece of you. When you look into their eyes their is an intelligence and understanding you don’t see in other animals.
This one was relaxing in the hot spring, bleary eyed and lazy as he peers over the edge at the enraptured photographers. He is probably wondering what is so interesting, us both as much a zoo attraction as each other.
The monkey park is a photo haven, their willingness to pose and colourful faces making it difficult to take a bad one. I took lots and thought I would make a regular feature- ‘Monkey Moments’. One monkey per blog post, until I run out of good ones. See some other monkey moments.
AWARDS
WINNING PHOTO in the Photo Lord daily photography competition. See it here.
RUNNER UP in The Telegraph ‘Big Picture’ Photography competition. See it on my blog here or on the Telegraph website here.
FRESHLY PRESSED!… on the worpress.com homepage. See it here.
WINNER! in The Times weekly travel photography competition. See it here.
WINNER! in the picstop.co.uk animal photography competition. See it here.
ALBUM COVER ART WORK – My spiky-haired friend has made it onto an album cover! In Situ, by Zindagi Band. See it here.
snow monkey photography 
alessiaepifani March 21, 2012
this is an amazing shot, winegums! its look is so expressive, it looks so human!! great work!
winegums March 22, 2012
They look so human! The way they use their hands especially!
Bronnie March 21, 2012
Just. Wow.
winegums March 22, 2012
Thank you, my number one fan 🙂
~mimo~ March 21, 2012
incredible shot!
winegums March 22, 2012
Thanks! Loving your new 366 blog!
MathiasLPhotos March 21, 2012
Magnificent !!!!!
winegums March 22, 2012
Thanks! It was quite hard to take a bad photo 🙂
Richard Guest March 21, 2012
That’s just brilliant. Great capture.
winegums March 22, 2012
Thanks! It was hard to take a bad one!
Tippeh March 23, 2012
What a wonderful spur of the moment shot! Seriously impressed, sir!
Good work.
winegums March 23, 2012
Thanks! It was one of those things that it is hard to take a bad photo of!
marinachetner March 26, 2012
AMAZING! That’s a great photo.
tone March 26, 2012
What a spectacular photo. Great shot.
winegums March 28, 2012
Thanks! One of those things that its hard to take a bad photo of 🙂
jmpix March 27, 2012
Brilliant…love the expression, pose, angle…he must have really listened to your direction 🙂 hehe…great shot!
winegums March 28, 2012
haha “look melancholy”, “eyes at me”
theresagreen March 27, 2012
Thanks for liking my post and leading me to your blog, it’s fascinating. Saw a documentary about those macaques; how lucky you are to see them ‘live’. Looking forward to seeing more images.
winegums March 28, 2012
They really are amazing! Its just so amazing that you can get so close to them and they are so accepting. I could have stayed there for hours and hours watching them. More monkey moments very soon! 🙂
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Rizal March 29, 2012
The expression on this one is ace!
winegums March 30, 2012
Thanks 🙂 It was so amazing to be able to get so close and see their human-like expressions. There are still a few more monkey moments to come 🙂
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thewanderingorange October 3, 2013
Incredible photo! I am so impressed and inspired! I am just getting back into Photography and love your work! 😀
winegums October 15, 2013
Thank you! I really appreciate it 🙂 I just had a look on your blog and its great. I love your wanderlust and your illustrations. Best of luck with your 365 journey!
palmtreelifestyle October 7, 2013
Great shot!
It is on my to do list to go and see these monkeys in the hot spas! Where is a good place to go?
🙂
winegums October 15, 2013
Thank you 🙂 I definitely recommend going to see the monkeys. They are in the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture. The best time to go is suring the winter months so make sure to wrap up! 🙂