Inside every tiger is a person. This provocative image most certainly shows a tiger in an unexpectedly human-like state of expression or behaviour. The picture might depict the huge cat participating in an activity we usually connect with human actions: maybe utilising its paws in a way that mimics hands, or expressing an almost exactly human facial expression. Capturing this split-second of anthropomorphic illusion, freezing a moment bridging the human and animal worlds, the photographer's skill would be clear-cut. This picture reminds me strongly of the intellectual and emotional complexity of these amazing animals. It asks viewers to reevaluate their impressions of the animal kingdom and the arbitrary boundaries we frequently create separating people from other species. The picture might also address issues of preservation, stressing their relevant traits to inspire sympathy for these threatened species. Whether the tiger is presented in its native habitat or in a more controlled situation, the picture most certainly succeeds in establishing a link between the observer and the subject, therefore encouraging a feeling of camaraderie with this untamed and sometimes misinterpreted animal.
