Photographer Risks Camera to Capture Herd of Elephants Up Close—And They Lumber So Close It’s Scary

Courtesy of Yarin Klein

A photographer risked the life of his camera for closeup photos of a wild herd of elephants, but the gamble paid off; not only did his camera survive the colossal mammals, but the photographic results were beyond belief.

Israel-based wildlife photographer Yarin Klein, 30, was on a trip to Amboseli National Park in Kenya in December 2021 when he decided to place his camera unattended alongside a dirt trail near a group of elephants on the move. Klein had not encountered this particular herd before and knew it was risky.

“I saw them from a long distance and decided to approach them,” Klein told The Epoch Times. "The idea of placing my camera next to the elephants with a remote control is not new to me; it’s something I’ve tried to do many times, but never succeeded the way I wanted until that day.

“Of course, there is the fear that one of the elephants will decide to destroy the camera.”

Wildlife photographer Yarin Klein's camera is seen unattended near a herd of elephants on the move in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Courtesy of Yarin Klein

The photographer gave the herd a wide berth, stepping back about 150 feet as they passed. Usually, either they would fail to come close enough, or Klein would miscalculate the camera’s angle and they would be on the wrong side. On this particular day, though, he nailed it.

Afterward, Klein retrieved his Nikon D850 camera and 14-millimeter lens intact, and out of the 300 or 400 photos he took, three shots blew his mind. He posted those on his Instagram with the caption, “Was it worth the risk?”

Elephants lumber near Yarin Klein's unattended camera in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Courtesy of Yarin Klein

“As a wildlife photographer, I’m always trying to innovate,” Klein told the newspaper. “I am very satisfied with the final result. It just proves that in life you have to take risks, sometimes, in order to succeed. Of course, you have to act carefully so as not to disturb the wildlife.”

Attracting eyes online, the photos garnered over ten million views and “a lot of love” from appreciative netizens in the form of likes, shares, and comments.

The elephants came too close for comfort when Yarin Klein left his camera unattended in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Courtesy of Yarin Klein

A black and white shot of an elephant up close and personal in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Courtesy of Yarin Klein

The photographer was inspired to enter his profession by a deep love for nature and wildlife. His work takes him to remote locations where he focuses on finding new angles for capturing animal species less often seen.

To those hoping to explore wildlife photography, Klein advises, “Preserve nature. Try to get close to the animals without disturbing them or scaring them; you will learn when to draw the line between a good photo and a disturbance to nature.”

A portrait of the photographer. Courtesy of Yarin Klein

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