Elephantine work of Art, a photo from Chiang Mai, North

Photographer's Note

"Maesa Elephant Camp" flanks a rushing river in a beautiful lush tropical valley a mere twenty minutes scenic drive from downtown Chiang Mai. Having been open for nearly thirty years and currently home to seventy eight elephants, this camp claims to have developed an expertise in the field of elephant breeding, training, healthcare and sustainable tourism.

The Camp is home to one of the largest assembly of elephants in the north of Thailand. A total of six tons of grass, bananas and sugarcane that go to feed the elephants in the camp daily are grown by the camp.

Of the many things demonstrated in the ‘Elephant Show’ orgainsed daily in the camp, painting of many abstract and realistic pictures by the elephants is perhaps the most interesting. Maesa Elephant Camp claims to be the only place in the world showing the painting of realistic pictures by elephant artists. The best of such paintings are displayed & sold in a gallery inside the camp. Paintings are sold at prices upto 1500 Thai Bahts

Just for records, a group of the eight artist elephants in the Maesa Elephant Camp created a 2.40 metres wide and12 metres long painting entitled “Cold Wind, Swirling Mist, Charming Lanna” which the Ripley's Believe It Or Not and the Guinness World Records acknowledged as “the Largest Painting by a Group of Elephants” and “the Most Expensive Painting by A Group of Elephants” respectively.

SnapRJW, besnard, jhm, pierrefonds, worldcitizen, bukitgolfb301, emilbo, papagolf21, danos, chrisvek, mohammad_H, josepmarin, Royaldevon, kordinator, adores, Didi ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

sevy (58) 2012-12-06 1:02

Hello Angshu,

Strange and funny shot. I was not aware such kind of art was done by elephant.
Your composition, in reportage style, is just perfect. Everything is in the frame to tell the story.

Yves.

dkmurphys (79209) 2012-12-06 1:03

Hi Angshuman,
Nice funny scene with the elephant artist. I like it, well seen!

Daniel

SnapRJW (31631) 2012-12-06 1:21

Hello Angshu - I think Maesa was the very first elephant camp we ever went to many years ago. At that time they didn't paint. I have seen the painting elephants in Lampang but not figurative work like the one pictured here. I am always torn in two ways when I see the elephants performing like this, in fact elephant shows on the whole disturb me. I love Asian elephants though and for the most part they are very well treated in camps like this. Many are rehabilitated and treated for illness and injury too. After seeing elephants and mahouts trying to scratch a living on the streets of Bangkok I have to admit that this is the better option. A super shot and a very talented ellie! TFS this one and warm regards Rosemary

besnard (59196) 2012-12-06 1:30

Bonjour Angshuman
Amusante cette image, voici l'éléphant transformé en artiste peintre. Celà valait le coup d'appuyer sur le clic.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

wolf38 (30) 2012-12-06 1:43

Hello Angshuman. Truly a photo with a touch of humor. The Elephants entertain people with their artistic activity, - and earn their livelihood. A great photo opportunity for TE.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

holmertz (103694) 2012-12-06 3:22

Hello Angshuman,
This is a beautiful, charming photo with great human touch (which usually also can refer to animals). However, I strongly doubt the elephant could have painted this itself without a lot of "assistance". Other paintings I have seen made by elephants or chimpanzees look very different and very "abstract".
Kind regards,
Gert

jhm (211738) 2012-12-06 3:33

Hello Angshu,

A lovely picture with these elephant, as nice subject.
The man works as super accompanist care for the elephant and the painting.
Excellent composition, nice done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

pierrefonds (115624) 2012-12-06 4:32

Hi Angshuman,

The elephant is well placed in the frame. The point of view is showing the action of the elephant painting. The light has a good effect on the colors. It is a good idea to show this scene. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Sergiom (117241) 2012-12-06 6:16

Bonjour Angshuman,

Je regarde le résultat obtenu et il est pas mal meilleur que je ne le serais. J'aime le point de vue au dessus de l'épaule du dresseur.

Amicalement

Serge

worldcitizen (16234) 2012-12-06 11:41

Hello Angshuman,
It is touching to see this elephant create such a beautiful work of art. I can see the concentration in his eye. I have heard wonderful things about elephants, but have never met one in person. Seeing this painting shows that they are truly sensitive beings. Very nice!

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2012-12-06 15:54

Hi dear Angshuman

Wow elephant can paint!?!

Intersting and amazing shot. Sharp and clear image via proper cropping makes so stable framework.
Sharp and clear image as usual. Thank you for your sharing with your best shot and have a good day!

Takero from Tokyo

emilbo (22616) 2012-12-06 17:04

Allô Angshuman!
Plutôt drôle cette photo et est-ce qu'on peut dire que la communauté artistique s'est enrichie? Je me demande si l'éléphant avait un modèle devant lui. Excellente composition et merci de nous monter des choses différentes.
Toutes mes félicitations!...
Emilius

TopGeo (38220) 2012-12-06 23:28

Hello Angshu! Is an education elephant or a hoax; I like to photograph as many questions about the use of the animal! I do not agree to be in the circus and parks a good idea and note!
best regards
Georgios

papagolf21 (152607) 2012-12-07 0:36

Bonjour, cher ami Angshu,
Cette photographie étonnante laisse perplexe quant à la qualité de certains artistes peintres humains !!!
Que dire, sinon bravo pour cette très bonne réalisation.
Très bonne journée.
Amitiés.
Philippe

danos (110407) 2012-12-07 0:50

Hello Angshu,
great the snapshot from this tourist attraction with the elephant as painter to put his brushstrokes on the camvas.I like the good and clear photo as its excellent quality.

Regards,Danos

Graal (103040) 2012-12-07 0:59

Hi Angshuman,
unusual scene. Good shot and presentation here. Amazing elephant "artist". Well note and photowork.
Have a nice WE.
Aleksander

Nicou (193814) 2012-12-07 2:30

Hlelo

quelle image grandiose compo et captage superbe cet éléphant qui fait de la peinture, j'adore les éléphant superbe image bravo.
Merci et amitié

Nicou

chrisvek (7003) 2012-12-07 5:23

Hello dear Angshuman

WOW!That's an incredible shoot.Amazing composition.So perfect colors and POV.Nice framework too.Very well done.

Have a nice day
Chris

Bluejeans (64251) 2012-12-07 5:39

Ola Angshuman ,
Belo momento fotografado com este elefante a pintar este vaso com flores , já tinha visto isto na TV , sem duvida como o maior animal terrestre consegue fazer estas pinturas , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

pajaran (117137) 2012-12-07 6:44

Dobro vece.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o kampu sa slonovima, sa datim podacima ...
Lep pogled na slona koji slika ...
Jedinstven trenutak ...
Dobra ostrina snimka, kontrast, lepe boje.
Dobra kompozicija, lepo pokazan slon koji slika.
Prijatno vece i sve najbolje za vikend.
Srecno.
Paja.

Good evening.
Very interesting and good article on campsite with elephants, with the given data ...
Nice view of the elephant image ...
Unique moment ...
Good image sharpness, contrast, beautiful color.
Good composition, nice elephant pictures shown.
Good evening and all the best for the weekend.
Good luck.
Paja.

mohammad_H (10178) 2012-12-07 6:56

Hi
Animals have talent, there are many
It is hard to train, but not out of mind
Beautiful scene
Have a nice evening

Fis2 (172023) 2012-12-07 9:31

Witaj Angshu!
Excellent shot, curious scene.
Good colors, light and sharpness.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

josepmarin (59385) 2012-12-07 10:44

Namaste, my friend Angshuman,
I already had seen these elephants-painters in some travel documentary on TV, but now I can see it also in your good photo.
I like the scene with the work of art created by this lovely elephant, which you have caught in an image with a great sharpness, and with a good management of the light and of the colors.
A splendid work.
Best wishes,
Josep

Royaldevon (86520) 2012-12-09 2:29

Hello Angshu,

I found the mood of the shot quite charming!
I like how you have composed the shot, the head and the trunk of the elephant leading so sinuously to the painting.
The well judged dof adds to the overall effect.

Your notes are quite uplifting.
How pleasing to read about animals being respected and thriving rather than what we usually hear about their plight.

Have a lovely Sunday,
Bev :-)

emka (158932) 2012-12-09 9:50

Hi again, very talented pachyderm artist. amazing how beautiful this painting is. I wouldn't do batter using hand and not the trunk. Interesting picture. But I didn't wonder that the painting 2.4 x 12 metres painting is the largest in the world. I haven't heard about other elephant painters. The elephant chose also nice frame for the painting.

Warm regrads

MAlgo

abmdsudi (95869) 2012-12-09 21:29

Namaste Angshu
Very well captured and framed, definately a different subject of such wonderful beast, an artist ele in the making! An interesting subject and by zooming straight in this orientation really adds the impact with excellent eye and the trunk to lead in strongly and his artwork to get more of the context. An excellent creation of an eyecatching street photography using these colors, bright vivid color tones are a great contrasts against overal tonalities and the presence of the trainer is special added interest. the elephant is amazing and you can get reasonably close to him is a real bonus, It was such a wonderful feeling!! Wonderful shot, TFS
Salam

kordinator (8738) 2012-12-12 12:12

Dear Angshuman
Nice funny scene with the elephant artist.
A lovely picture with these elephant, as nice subject,too.
Perfect composed image.
Best regards
Saša

adores (46979) 2012-12-12 16:27

Hi Angshuman!
I've seen something similar in Maetang Elephant Park:)! Still need to select and edit my photos!
I like this one a lot! Really impressive! You framed them really well and the colours are great! Even the painting is very good! Good one!

Didi (61591) 2012-12-18 4:27

Salam Angshu
Very great scene, original subject of the artist elephant
A very good picture for Trekearth
I wish you a Merry Christmas
Best regards