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Bipedal Body
JULY 2006
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So Close, Yet So Different
Photograph by Cary Wolinsky
Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, sharing approximately 96 percent of our DNA sequences. Looking into the face of a chimpanzee, however, it's not hard to see the difference that 4 percent and millions of years can make. The chimpanzee-human lineages are believed to have split some seven million years ago. In that time, many species of hominins have come and gone, ultimately leading to the evolution of Homo sapiens. Our species is equipped with a suite of characteristics—flatter faces, bigger brains, straighter spines, and highly specialized hands and feet—all consequences of the drive to walk upright.
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Camera: Nikon D2X
Format: Digital
Lens: 105mm
Speed and F-Stop: 1/125 @ f/18
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Weather Conditions: Indoors
Time of Day: Afternoon
Lighting Techniques: Studio strobes
Special Comments: This is a six-year-old male chimp named Jack who is quite comfortable in front of a camera. He is the same chimp shown holding a high heel shoe with his feet on page 126 of the July issue. It was a cool, rainy day when he arrived at the studio, riding on his trainers' back like a kid on his dad's shoulders. To help stay warm, he was wearing a sweatshirt. One of the shots I had in mind was a simple full front view that would show the shape of his mouth, ears, and nose. Because of his amazing eyes, the portrait was quite compelling—and the shirt adds a nice touch. (Watch Jack in action.)
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