Vince M. CamioloUpdate: I've been in contact with the photographer in the above video and we would both like to issue a statement regarding the news of the National Park Service's decision to put the elk down.
My statement: I am deeply saddened by the fate of the elk. It has certainly pulled a black cloud over this whirlwind "viral video" experience.
I spoke to the reporter who broke the story and she assured me the decision was based on a pattern of aggressive behavior that began prior to the incident documented in this video. The behavior was the result of visitors feeding the elk and conditioning them to seek food from humans. This video only serves as an example of the elk's dangerous behavior, not an impetus to it.
Again, it brings me great sadness to learn of this beautiful animal's demise and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding it. I'm looking into a destination for proceeds from this video to help the NPS educate visitors on the dangers and consequences of feeding wildlife.
I also want to be clear that James, the photographer, was not complicit in a behavior that led to the elk's demise, but rather was made an example of the result of such behaviors. The elk approached him from behind, likely looking for food as he was conditioned to do.
Statement from the photographer: I love and respect animals and that's why I photograph them and don't hunt them. I am deeply hurt by the loss of such a beautiful creature that in its own way bonded with me. I looked forward to watching him grow to a mature bull as the years passed.
I'm truly heartbroken to know he is gone.
Original video description:
While photographing elk at sunrise in the Cataloochee Valley of Great Smoky Mountains National Park I turned around to see what appeared to be just a curious young bull sniffing a photographer's camera. I snapped a few frames of the apparent harmless encounter.
But the elk became more interested in making trouble than simply the scent of a camera. He started physically harassing the photographer, escallating to full on head-butts.
I quickly switched the camera to video and let it roll (much of the time wondering when I should seriously consider intervening).
Most people who see this ask why the photographer seems to just take the abuse. I asked him in an email what was going through his head. This is his response:
"My first thoughts were "wow, he's getting pretty damn close here." But I've been up close before without incident. I hoped being still and passive would see him pass on. When he lowered his antlers to me, I wanted to keep my vitals protected and my head down. I felt that standing up would provoke him more and leave me more vulnerable to goring. I think that while protecting myself with my head down, having my head down was a signal that I was rutting with him. I was concerned at first, but when he started rearing back and lunging at me later on, I got scared and pissed off. That's when I wagged my finger at him to cut that shit out. I was relieved to see the Ranger coming.
So I guess at some point if the Ranger hadn't of pulled up, I would have had to disengage the best I could. I've joked with my friends that at least he took me for a buck and not a cow!"
Elk vs. Photographer | Great Smoky Mountains National ParkVince M. Camiolo2013-11-12 | Update: I've been in contact with the photographer in the above video and we would both like to issue a statement regarding the news of the National Park Service's decision to put the elk down.
My statement: I am deeply saddened by the fate of the elk. It has certainly pulled a black cloud over this whirlwind "viral video" experience.
I spoke to the reporter who broke the story and she assured me the decision was based on a pattern of aggressive behavior that began prior to the incident documented in this video. The behavior was the result of visitors feeding the elk and conditioning them to seek food from humans. This video only serves as an example of the elk's dangerous behavior, not an impetus to it.
Again, it brings me great sadness to learn of this beautiful animal's demise and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding it. I'm looking into a destination for proceeds from this video to help the NPS educate visitors on the dangers and consequences of feeding wildlife.
I also want to be clear that James, the photographer, was not complicit in a behavior that led to the elk's demise, but rather was made an example of the result of such behaviors. The elk approached him from behind, likely looking for food as he was conditioned to do.
Statement from the photographer: I love and respect animals and that's why I photograph them and don't hunt them. I am deeply hurt by the loss of such a beautiful creature that in its own way bonded with me. I looked forward to watching him grow to a mature bull as the years passed.
I'm truly heartbroken to know he is gone.
Original video description:
While photographing elk at sunrise in the Cataloochee Valley of Great Smoky Mountains National Park I turned around to see what appeared to be just a curious young bull sniffing a photographer's camera. I snapped a few frames of the apparent harmless encounter.
But the elk became more interested in making trouble than simply the scent of a camera. He started physically harassing the photographer, escallating to full on head-butts.
I quickly switched the camera to video and let it roll (much of the time wondering when I should seriously consider intervening).
Most people who see this ask why the photographer seems to just take the abuse. I asked him in an email what was going through his head. This is his response:
"My first thoughts were "wow, he's getting pretty damn close here." But I've been up close before without incident. I hoped being still and passive would see him pass on. When he lowered his antlers to me, I wanted to keep my vitals protected and my head down. I felt that standing up would provoke him more and leave me more vulnerable to goring. I think that while protecting myself with my head down, having my head down was a signal that I was rutting with him. I was concerned at first, but when he started rearing back and lunging at me later on, I got scared and pissed off. That's when I wagged my finger at him to cut that shit out. I was relieved to see the Ranger coming.
So I guess at some point if the Ranger hadn't of pulled up, I would have had to disengage the best I could. I've joked with my friends that at least he took me for a buck and not a cow!"
Thanks for checking out the video!John H. Rockwell III MemorialVince M. Camiolo2021-08-04 | John Hobart Rockwell III, Commander, USN (Ret) passed away suddenly on April 14, 2021 from an apparent heart attack. He was 77 years old.
He was preceded in death by his brother Gregory Rockwell (Linda) and his parents, Phyllis and John Hobart Rockwell Jr. He is survived by his brothers Pete (Cynthia Hart), Steve, and Tim Rockwell (Loretta), his children Irene, Amy (Joe Prunka), Vincent (Lynne), and Natalie (Vincent Camiolo), his 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and by Linda Garrett, his beautiful partner for over 25 years.
“Rocky” was a third generation US Naval Academy alumnus, graduating in 1966. Like his father, Rocky became a fighter pilot and served 20 years active duty. Some highlights include flying the F-8 Crusader on two USS Oriskany cruises, earning his Master’s degree at the University of Munich as an Olmsted Scholar, joining the Navy’s first F-14 squadron for service aboard the USS Enterprise, and serving as a Test Pilot Instructor for two years after graduating from the US Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, MD.
Never one to keep his feet on the ground for long, he joined United Airlines in 1989 as a test pilot based in San Francisco, and he remained there until his retirement in 2018. He was an avid motorcyclist, snow skier, water skier, and hang-glider. He shared these hobbies with his children and anyone else, of any age, who was willing to learn and join him.
Rocky had numerous charities and volunteer organizations with which he worked, but he is probably best known as “The Cat Whisperer,” trapping feral cats throughout the San Francisco Bay area so they could be neutered and released, and working with Toni’s Kitty Rescue to nurse stray kittens back to health and socialize them for adoption. He basically turned his home into a four-star hotel for his feline friends where every cat and kitten he cared for got a name.
Rocky will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He was a great example of a kind, intelligent man with a beautiful, generous heart. We were all lucky to have had him in our lives.
Donations in his memory may be made to Toni’s Kitty Rescue, 415 Buena Vista Ave E, San Francisco, CA 94117 (toniskittyrescue.org), FINCA International (finca.org), or The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA (marinemammalcenter.org).Vince M. Camiolo Live StreamVince M. Camiolo2021-08-03 | ...Stewart & Claire | Brooklyn Craft Lip BalmVince M. Camiolo2015-03-27 | A short video, produced in an afternoon, profiling Brooklyn craft lip balm maker Kristin Donnelly of Stewart & Claire.
Check out their wonderful products at http://www.stewartandclaire.comBorder Collie vs. Floating IceVince M. Camiolo2015-03-05 | During a walk along the Delaware River, my border collie, LanceDogstrong, spotted a piece of ice freely floating in the middle of the river.
He had a problem with that, apparently.
Shot on iPhone 5.My 104-Year-Old Grandmother Tries on a Stanley Cup RingVince M. Camiolo2014-07-25 | When my grandmother immigrated to the United States from Germany 90 years ago, she was already a sports fan. But mainstream sports in the US didn't offer anything with which she was familiar -- like soccer -- especially in her new hometown of Philadelphia.
In 1967 the Philadelphia Flyers debuted, and with it 47 years (and counting) of dedicated fandom from Helen Moser, my grandmother.
Ice hockey was similar enough to her beloved soccer, and also introduced her to a new rapid pace that she instantly loved.
To this day she never misses a game.Restore the Shore PA ChapterVince M. Camiolo2012-12-06 | Music by Marc Halikas