Carrying a camera with any sort of larger lens often means there’s a good chance a stranger will strike up a conversation with you during your journey. As an introvert, I do enjoy my quiet time on these trips, but I’ve come to appreciate these interactions over the years. Meeting individuals from different corners of the globe and discussing a shared interest often leaves me feeling more energized than I would otherwise be on those early mornings.

On my second day in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, a Dutch photographer started chatting with me about gear (as most of these conversations typically start). I mentioned that some of my favorite images from the previous day were of groups of Japanese macaques. He told me he wasn’t interested in photographing multiple animals and was only focused on isolated ones, as he found them to be more impactful. It was a statement that made me reflect on my own work.

I have sought out single subjects on many occasions, some of which have made for a few of my favorite images. But one of my biggest drivers for presenting an image is the hope of establishing a connection between the viewer and the animal. While a lone figure can express a spirit, power, and resolve, some feelings aren’t conveyed as effectively with just one subject—feelings that strike a different chord.

Safety. Comfort. Trust.

Love.

These take two. And sometimes, a tiny third.