A few weeks ago I heard about the Austin Gorilla Run, a 5k run/walk that benefits the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. The race entrance fee includes a gorilla suit, which you must wear during the race.
I wasn’t assigned by anyone to shoot the race, but I just couldn’t resist the chance to see hundreds of gorillas running around down town. So I got up early on Saturday morning and went down town with my camera. The experience didn’t disappoint.
I thought about the course and, after realizing they would be nowhere near the capitol (bummer), thought about a wide shot on the 1st Street bridge. I took my 11-18mm lens and my mono-pod to raise up the camera to get a nice overview shot of the gorillas with some of the river below.
When I got to the race and actually saw the gorillas, I realized I way over thought this situation. Not that I took it too seriously before, but really, why was I trying to do anything except capture the silliness? So I abandoned my small plan and just took pictures of people dressed up as gorillas dressed up as other things.
Here are some of my favorites:
I can’t forget the giant bananas that feared for their lives. Here’s one standing at the finish line looking awfully worried.
It was a great time and I got to see some of my friend photographers who also couldn’t stay away.
Click here for a gallery of images by the Statesman’s Rodolfo Gonzales.
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