safarichuck

Wow,
I just looked at your Blog and was blown away. How fantastic these images look! I see a great benefit to Africa and Wildlife conservation in general from efforts such as this. Many people do not realize that these resources still exist and this will make them more aware of the "still wild Africa". I certainly hope it promotes tourisim since it will be through tourisim that these countries will realize the value of this resource. They are fast realizing that they can host hundreds of photo-tourists without the terrible ecological impact of just a few hunters. I think this will prove a great opportunity for Andy and will benefit the wildlife that we are all so fond of.
Regards-Chuck

andybiggs

Thank you, Chuck.

I will tell you a funny story. So last week at the BR private shopping night, they had nearly 1,000 people in the store in a 2-hour period. There was a line at least 10 minutes long for me to sign a poster that they gave away with any purchase at the store. I had a question asked to me many times throughout the evening:

"Which zoo were these taken in?"

I just had to shake my head and answer quite nicely:

"Last time I checked, the Serengeti isn't a zoo. Perhaps it will be in 100 years if we don't protect it."

moremiles

I noticed the photographs immediately in the Santa Monica store and there are postcards at checkout with photos and your name on them. It was strange to recognize a Fodor's name! Beautiful photos too.

doohickey

"Which zoo were these taken in?"

Andy,

We were in Yellowstone yesterday. John overheard a woman ask a staffer when Old Faithful first began erupting. I.e., how soon after Yellowstone was declared a national park. Geesh. It's like the woman MyDogKyle overheard asking if the government fed the animals in Arusha NP. That Disneyland mentality is everywhere!

Kinda scary, eh?

-judith

andybiggs

Gosh, I wish every person on this planet could find some place in nature that speaks to them, and then they 'get it' after that. I was in Rocky Mountain National Park for a long weekend last year, and this friend of mine brought along his girlfriend. They both live in NYC. She is 35 years old. She made the comment about how this was her first trip *ever* in a National Park in the USA. I was flabbergasted. Blown away. But she can tell me every single clothing store in a 2 mile radius of her home.

Yes, there is life outside of your community. Time to get out!

Kavey

The store photos look fabulous, you must be thrilled.

Did I understand you correctly that the prints will all be destroyed in August?

Would there be no way of recovering them and selling them to raise funds for charity or even just donating them for hanging in hospitals or schools or carehomes or other such organisations?

andybiggs

Kavey-

Yes, the prints are typically destroyed at the end of it all. They are just poster quality prints, so I am glad they won't be circulating around. My contract with them dictates that they can use my images, but not sell them or give them away. There are over 475 stores around the world, and it would be a major effort for them to take them down and ship them some place. The prints are theirs, not mine at this point.

If people enjoy the images, and would like a print, I am setup to print up to 36x48 on my printer here at the studio. And much much better quality, as well as for longevity.

chris45ny

Loved the pictures. Went to our BR store today, got some of the postcards, talked to staff who loved the photos and had so many questions about you that I couldn't answer (does he do this solely for a living, what countries are the pictures from, etc.) I even looked at the clothes and fell in love with some of the African inspired articles-belts, purses, tops, dresses, pants ,skirts and more. Usually it's my daughter who shops here as she's a size 4 but I managed to purchase one of the African inspired skirts!! We are going to Africa this August. I've been researching photo equipment to take and you and Bill Hinton have made things so easy. Thanks for taking the time to reply to the many posters with photo related questions. You're not only a talented wildlife photographer but nice guy to boot. Continued success to you.

Kavey

I can understand your not wanting them to sell poster-quality prints as fine art but... I guess the thought of _that_ many stunning images already printed and framed being destroyed is just... I dunno, somewhat distressing.

How would you feel if they donated them to non-commercial organisations such as hospitals? Would you prefer not or would you OK the idea if there was a practical way to do it?

andybiggs

Kavey, I understand your concerns. The Gap, Inc owns those printed images, not me. It isn't my decision, and I don't have any control over where the prints go.

If you want to affect what happens to the printed images, please contact Banana Republic.

end of discussion on the matter.

Kavey

There would be little point in my contacting them about the issue if you prefer, as you said above, the status quo of your contract. They would simply refer to not being permitted to do anything with the prints because of the contract.

Shrug, seems a shame is all.