Ballet with Reptiles: Behind the Scenes

"The message is simple: Love and Conserve our Wildlife."  -Steve Irwin

Check out what it was like on set for the series, Ballet with Reptiles. We worked with all kinds of animals; a chameleon, multiple snakes, Tegu Lizard, desert tortoises, and American Alligators. 

Tyler is a professional wildlife handler and operates a non-profit rescue in Nampa, ID. The animals were well taken care of and not mistreated. Please don't be alarmed to see the ballerina on top of a tortoise. Desert tortoises are actually incredibly strong and sturdy and can withstand a lot of weight. When you see the alligators scurrying about on the backdrop and outside it is so that we could tire them a bit, so they would be calm when it came time to photograph them. Think of it like letting a kid run around a bit to burn off some energy before needing them to calm for a little bit. 

Please enjoy this behind the scenes video, it's a fun chance to get a peek into the fun we had during these shoots. We all had a wonderful chance to learn a bit more about each animal, challenge ourselves to overcome some fears, and create beautiful images for this series. 

I hope that this series also sheds light on Tyler's rescue and his efforts. His passion is conservation and education with reptiles. He spends a lot of time putting on events, birthday parties, and going to schools to teach children about the animals he works with. He has a big heart, and cares for all of the animals that come to his rescue. He also has adoption opportunities for some of the animals at his rescue. 

I personally would have never been willing to get so close to snakes, let alone alligators if it wasn't for Tyler. His passion for what he does shines through, and his ability to educate and make people feel comfortable around the reptiles is amazing. I think these kind of experiences are so special and unique. The beauty of these animals up close is really touching. I hope that this series will create inspiration and support for his education and conservation efforts through his rescue, Reptile Adventures. I also hope that it inspires people to see the beauty in these animals that are often looked at negatively and/or fearfully, and yes, in the wild absolutely rightfully so, but they're beautiful creatures that deserve respect and our care. We all share one planet, one home, and as humans we need to be taking care of each other and the wildlife we share this amazing planet with.  Education and conservation is vitally important for this generation and the future. 

So on that note, please enjoy watching this behind the scenes video. And keep scrolling to see more pics, and watch the backstory, too.

The official online release of this series, Ballet with Reptiles, will be Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 6pm MT. 

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