Last night I had an unusual experience while recording elk in a
meadow. I waited until late to start recording, when fewer cars and
planes would be heard. Sitting in the meadow in the dark, and using a
shotgun mic I could hear incredible details. I haven't used the
shotgun in a while and didn't realize I had the headphone amp really
high so everything was a bit exaggerated, but for the first time while
recording in nature I felt really out of place. Images of the
photographers lining the road all day snapping off pictures came back
into mind, and I started thinking about the lack of privacy of these
animals.
I realize my thinking involves a bit of anthropomorphising, but the
feeling came on a gut level not an intellectual one...
Most of the time while recording in settings like these, I feel deeply
aware of the inherent good about listening especially in places like
these. On so many levels, recording fills me with a difficult to
describe inspiration.
Of course, when I first pressed play, unaware of how much I was
amplifying distant sounds, I heard the sound of an elk charging. In
the dark, with headphones I had the experience of this elk running
over me. I was completely intimidated; it is hilarious now to think
about, but I am wondering if others have ever felt that recording was
invasive?
Thanks for thoughts,
Toby
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