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Shawna Hinkel
UNITED STATES
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“It has been said that “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” and I have found this to be true. Not only in people, but also in animals – and most especially in the great apes.”
The series “Almost Human” explores the eyes and expressions of these magnificent creatures, looking for the souls in our most closely-related counterparts. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are so much like us that if you spend a little time with them, you can almost tell what they are feeling. Some are young and playful, some are old and wise, and some are shy and do not want to be bothered. They all have very different personalities and spirits.
An Old Soul | Black & White Photography
Wise. The graying hair and many lines on the face of the matriarch of the chimpanzee family gives her the look of having seen many things during her life. I spent several hours watching the family that day. It was a beautiful morning with gorgeous natural light. I kept watching her because I love the texture in her face. She watched me pretty closely as well. She finally came and sat in a great spot where the light was perfect so I could photograph her.
This series began as a personal project. Actually, it began as with a leisurely trip to the zoo in 2016. Shawna needed a creative spark, and after a hot Texas summer, decided to spend a day clearing her head at a place she has always enjoyed.
Family Tree | Black & White Photography
Mischievous. The baby chimpanzee was about two years old and still keeping close to his mother. I watched for awhile as he played in the morning sun and ate breakfast. Eventually, about half a dozen members of the troop all gathered together and started grooming each other with the youngster in the middle. Amazing!
No itinerary, no pressure, no friends asking to move on to the next exhibit … just a beautiful day outside with the animals.
“I want to show the heart of these beautiful animals so more people can find a deeper understanding and affection for them, and learn more about the conservation efforts in place to help them. What a better world it would be for man and apes alike.”
An avid animal lover, she visited many exhibits, but she really enjoyed watching the apes. Their expressiveness was captivating. The interaction between the adults and the children was precious. Their personalities were so distinct. Some shied away from the camera (or turned their backs completely), but some actually seemed to pose.
Table for 1 | Color Photography
Lonely. This gorgeous female Sumatran orangutan looked so sad and lonely. She had companions nearby, but she had her meal alone. I spent a couple of hours with them that day and kept wondering what she was thinking.
Ornery. A portrait of a giant Western Lowland Gorilla Silverback. Isn’t he handsome?! He looks like he might hit on a lady in a bar.
Plotting My Next Move | Black & White Photography
Ultimately, three award-winning images were created that first day, and the “Almost Human” series was born.
*Due to the pandemic, this exhibition was not held at the Tang Museum but exhibited online through a virtual gallery.
Shawna has photographed animals around the world. Her focus has become the great apes, which include Orangutans, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Bonobos. Three of those species are included in this exhibit, and she recently photographed the Bonobos, so they will be added to the series soon.
Mini Me | Black & White Photography
Love. The giant Western Lowland Gorilla Silverback and his tiny new son. This moment gave me all the feelings.
Some of the images are serious, some are playful; some are portraits, some are more environmental; some will make you smile, others sad. Every day with these animals is different, so the images are always different.
The Thinker | Black & White Photography
Confident. He is so regal! This was truly a moment of serendipity. I had been watching this chimpanzee troop for a few hours and had a spot picked out that was perfect from my vantage point. I kept wishing someone would go sit in that spot while the light was good. Eventually, one did. For about a minute. That’s all I needed.
Images from the series have received numerous awards, have been featured in exhibitions in more than a dozen art galleries, and have been published in “Rangefinder” and “American Society of Photographers Magazine.”
Bashful. I just love this face! This is a female Sumatran orangutan. She was a bit shy, but I spent some time with her and she eventually relaxed. She finally looked up at me with this expression, and I photographed a few frames. I thanked her for posing so beautifully before I left.
Feeling Blue | Color Photography
“I really hope you enjoy this exhibit, and I hope you can appreciate the beauty of these wonderful creatures as much as I do. Every time I visit, I wonder what they will do next.”
Just Hanging Around | Black & White Photography
Happy. This beautiful baby orangutan was climbing all over her mother. She would hide in mom’s fur and then peek out at me. She had so much energy! She finally found a good spot in the fur on mom’s back.
The great apes are all endangered species, which makes bringing awareness of them even more important to the world. The main threats they face are habitat loss and poaching. Unfortunately, humans – the fifth primate in the Great Ape family – are responsible for both. If people can learn to look at them as more than just trophies or pests to be dealt with, maybe we can learn to co-exist peacefully. These animals are so much like us, it would be a tragedy to lose them.
Adventurous. What a beauty! How can you refuse her anything?! A Western Lowland Gorilla baby had a very busy morning eating breakfast with her mother and playing with her little brother. She is getting old enough to venture away from mom a bit, but not too far out of sight. She finally stopped in the perfect spot and posed for me.
Want to be My Friend? | Black & White Photography
These are our closest living relatives. We should be doing everything we can to protect them.
Pretty Please? | Black & White Photography
Playful. This Western Lowland Gorilla at about two years old was always on the move, and he was so fast! He wanted to play, but the adults wanted to nap. He finally sat down for a few seconds, and I was able to capture one frame of him still.
“I want to show the heart of these beautiful animals so more people can find a deeper understanding and affection for them, and learn more about the conservation efforts in place to help them. What a better world it would be for man and apes alike.”
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