Thanks for holding the contest @derangedvisions ! I will try for the Professional category !
This is a shot of a Japanese Macaque or Snow Monkey that was engaging in some serious eye contact with my camera. It was taken at the hot springs (or onsen) that feeds into the valley of the Yokoyu-River at Jigokudani Yaen Koen. Literally meaning "Hell's Valley", Jigokudani was named after the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the frozen ground which is surrounded by steep cliffs. The valley sits at an elevation of 850 meters. Other than humans the Macaque is the primate that lives in the coldest climate and survives in winter temperatures down to -15 °C. In japan the species is known as Nihonzaru. In Shinto belief, mythical beasts known as raijū sometimes appeared as monkeys and kept Raijin, the god of lightning, company. The "three wise monkeys", which warn people to "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil", are carved in relief over the door of the famous Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō. Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Image taken by and remains the Copyright of Robert Downie - http://www.robertdowniephotography.com
Awesome shot! I lived in Japan for 4 years growing up and wasn't lucky enough to see any of these little guys. I lived in Okinawa though where it was a lot warmer than mainland Japan.
Thank you for participating. I am looking forward to seeing more from you in these contests.
It should be furry enough to qualify ! Were you stationed down there with the US military ?
Ya, my father was in the Air Force. I was in elementary school. It was one of my favorite places growing up.