My dad and I had this conversation while he was here visiting a couple of weekends ago. While he named people like Lewis and Clark and Alexander the Great, my one choice was Dian Fossey.
Because of Dian Fossey, I’ve had a lifelong love affair with mountain gorillas. Growing up, she was my hero. I wanted to be her.
Of all the photos of gorillas I’ve taken, this is my favorite. It was taken in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
In 2006, I took this picture in Rwanda, where Dian Fossey did her research. This silverback’s name is Guhonda, which means “beats the chest.” At the time, he was the biggest and oldest of all the silverbacks in Rwanda. At 34 years old, he weighed in the neighborhood of 485 pounds.
If you could go back in time to meet someone, who would it be?
Morning Bray Farm 
July 21, 2010 at 3:35 am
I wouldn’t have to go back in time because he’s still alive: the Dali Lama.
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July 21, 2010 at 5:13 am
When I first saw the title of your post and the gorilla photograph I thought you were going to say Digit… lol. I’ll have my first coffee and then perhaps I’ll make more sense.
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July 23, 2010 at 6:51 am
Sigrid,
Sweet, sweet Digit. 🙂
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July 21, 2010 at 5:36 am
These pictures are spectacular! I feel like the gorilla in the first ones can see into my soul. They look so human like! I can’t believe they are on the verge of extinction because of their relatives’ greed.
Who would I like to meet if I could go back in time? My grandparents to ask them all the questions I didn’t ask when I had the chance. If it would have to be someone famous, Steve Irwin.
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July 21, 2010 at 6:50 am
Without a doubt, Johnny Cash!
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July 21, 2010 at 6:56 am
Mark Twain. Or Emily Dickenson. Or Mozart. Or Fredrick Douglas.
I have a rather wide range of interests…
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July 21, 2010 at 7:29 am
What beautiful images! I think I would love to meet either Eliot Porter or Ansel Adams. As a photographer I often wonder about the early masters that had to think about this new 2 dimensional view of our 3 dimensional world. Just sit and have a cup of coffee and listen.
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July 21, 2010 at 7:47 am
Beautiful picture!! How close were you when you took his picture?
The person I’d like to go back in time to meet—my dad before he went to war (WWII).
I really tried to think of someone famous, but couldn’t come up with one. Lewis and Clark came to mind, briefly.
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July 23, 2010 at 6:50 am
CeeCee,
A couple of feet, give or take. As a youngster, he was chock full of curiosity. 🙂
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July 21, 2010 at 7:54 am
I would have to say Anne Boleyn. If allowed a second person (and a second trip), I would add Queen Elizabeth I.
Such fascinating women!!!
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July 21, 2010 at 8:26 am
After thinking about it, there’s not really somebody I would want to meet but I would DEARLY love a few more books by authors J.R.R. Tolkien, Alexandre Dumas et Jane Austen…
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July 21, 2010 at 8:38 am
These photos are awesome! Such expressive eyes…
I’d have a tough time choosing just one or two people I’d like to meet. But I would love to have a conversation with our founding fathers just to see what their take is on the direction our country is headed…and my great grandmother that lived in a sod house in the Dakota Territory. My mother has told me stories of her life-wow!
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July 21, 2010 at 8:46 am
Stunning pics!
Velma Johnston would be one of the ones I would love to meet. Or as most people know her as, “Wild Horse Annie”. She got the publics attention to saving our Mustangs.
Abraham Lincoln would also be one on the list. Gosh, there are so many. Ooooh, Geronimo too! Lucille Ball. Roy Rogers.
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July 21, 2010 at 8:55 am
My choice would vary from day to day.
Today, I would choose to go back a couple of centuries and know one or another of my ancestors. I know the names, but I don’t know if they liked cats, or liked to sing as they worked, or any of the regular day-to-day stuff.
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July 21, 2010 at 11:20 am
Hands down it would be Jackie Kennedy Onassis. She’s always been my idol.
Di
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July 21, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I want to hear more about you in Africa!
Well now on the spur of the moment..back in time to the 1960’s and I was a 9 year old girl in love with the Monkees, I sure would have loved to rode in that Monkee car! LoL…
But..then also I think Amelia Earhart would be a great person to meet and maybe a ride in the plane.(without disappearing over the Pacific)
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July 22, 2010 at 11:25 am
The first time I saw Dian Fossey was in a National Geographic reportage, a long… long time ago. Since then I always search her in news and magazines. I remember I was very sad when I read about her death, so tragic… I also read her book and also saw the movie with Sigourney Weaver…
That photo you took is really fantastic, awesome… His eyes, his regard is so moving… You capture his soul! Just amazing picture!
If I could go back in time to meet someone, it would be my Mom… I miss her so much…
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July 22, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I want to compliment you on those beautiful pictures. The gorilla is such a regal creature. I’ve always loved watching video footage of them in their homelands. However, I shudder every time I think of the poachers and the destruction they’ve wrought. I vividly watching the movie about Ms. Fossey. A most admirable soul. On your question, like so many, it’s hard to limit it to just one. I like to think of it as who would I like to have dinner with? So many . . . A. Lincoln, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Dorothy Parker, and so on. Great question, great pictures.
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July 22, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I think it would be fascinating to go back in time and visit with Jesus. I’d ask Him how He would handle the whole homosexuality issue and abortions and stem cell research and all the hot topics of today. Because I’m pretty sure Christians today aren’t handling these things the way Jesus would want them handled.
I’d also like to go back in time and spend more time with my grandma and grandpa… I miss them so much!
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