Eye of the Tiger

Artist: ECGardner
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Card: US$3.85
Print: from US$19.24

Eye of the Tiger

I don’t think it is a coincidence that the eyes of a white bengal tiger are blue, as they always seem to be filled with sadness…

As you probably know, I take a lot of photos of white bengal tigers. But I always have mixed feelings when I upload them… Yes, the animals are stunning, but the white tiger isn’t something that is found in nature, and is a product of humans breeding them for the “white tiger trade.” All white tigers can be traced back to a single tiger born with a genetic mutation in the 1950s that created a white coat and blue eyes. This tiger’s “owner” immediately saw dollar signs and started to breed him to produce other white tigers. Naturally, this required a great deal of inbreeding, which has led to many white tigers having all sorts of genetic problems. Not only this, but about 3/4 of the cubs born in the white tiger trade are actually orange. These “undesirables” are either killed or sold to game farms where brave hunters pay to shoot and kill these captive animals.

Because of these horribly unethical practices, the American Zoological Association prohibits its members from purchasing white tigers from such breeders and from breeding them due to the high rate of genetic defects. All of the white tigers I have photographed have been those that were fortunate enough to have been rescued from the breeding trade (including the shot Tag Team ). Most white tigers aren’t so lucky. You can help put an end to this trade by not going to circuses and animal parks that purchase white tigers from breeders. When the demand ceases, this practice will cease as well.

This shot was taken with a 50mm macro lens and isn’t a crop… Yes, I was that close!!

100% of the profits from the sale of this image will be donated to Big Cat Rescue.

Eye of the Tiger belongs to the following groups:

Animal Kingdom, Art for Conservation, Big Cats, Endangered Species, Exotic Mammals, Happy Haven and Zoophoria

hilarydougill, 2 months ago

Wondrous macro, fabulous shot of this beautiful animal, we call this one the Siberian Tiger, he is white because of the snow so he has camouflage, they are white in the Himalayas as well.
Kenny Gulley Jr., 2 months ago

woooow how close were you?
spectacular EC!
Torfinn Johann..., 2 months ago

Stunning shot! Excellent colours, and details.
Crockpot, 2 months ago

As always, beautiful image and wonderful description. :)
LindaR, 2 months ago

as always Erin ~ your work is stunning ~ no doubt the subject is always honored by your camera and eye ~ it’s your heart and writing that leaves me so sad ~ thank you for taking the task of speaking/standing and showing these beautiful cats ~ xx
Jacky, 2 months ago

Beautifully intens look..that blue is gorgeous:)
ferndesign, 2 months ago

such awesome blue eyes love it
Cheri McEachin, 2 months ago

Thank you, yes its a great shot but mostly for your wonderful description. I learned something today!
Cynthia Adams, 2 months ago

Erin..you are a mine of information and as always I have learnt something from this beautiful image..I never knew of the inbreeding and just thought it was an act of God..not of man…but I just love this image..so very beautiful and the blue eyes are so gorgeous…I am being educated through your work..thankyou Erin…a perfect specimen.
Hugs
Nicholas Averre, 2 months ago

What an amazing capture !!
Dimf, 2 months ago

Wonderful shot
Michele Duncan..., 2 months ago

Erin this is fantastic!
pinkyjain, 2 months ago

Beautiful photo Erin, & thank you so much for your commentary. i just recently learned that myself about White Tigers, so i very rarely will comment on photos or drawings of them, because though they are so beautiful, they are abnormally so, & as you write, so many many are born with horrible birth defects & have a life of pain. Thank you!!!!!!!!
J.K. York, 2 months ago

Great shot Erin. super intense tight tiger portrait. the eye is so beautiful with just the right amount of catch light. good info too, i did not know they were human engineered to be white. very sad indeed when ethics take a back seat to profit.
daniels, 2 months ago

a gorgeous animal and captured with the usual elegance. these people should be dealt with in the harshest terms. db
GerryMac, 2 months ago

stunning close up Erin! love the detail
dinghysailor1, 2 months ago

really fascinating description added to a phenomenal image ! great work both photographically and in raising awareness of their sad plight!
nansy, 2 months ago

This is better than ‘wow’
Bob McKain, 2 months ago

Very nice, love the contrast of the blue eye on the white and black.
Robert Elliott, 2 months ago

simply superb !!
adgray, 2 months ago

Oh wow gorgeous! Lucky you to be that close! I love Tigers white or orange :o)
Thank you for the info too I never knew that they were not a natural phenomenon
We have some here in the 2 big Australian zoos [Melbourne & Toronga] – I think -
but in my younger years when I saw them there was a tag “Siberian White Tigers” and considered them a breed like Siberian Huskies. Thank you for the correction.
PNFdeb, 2 months ago

nice!!
AnaCBStudio, 2 months ago

Beautiful details…I can feel his breath…wow…excellent image!
Mundy Hackett, 2 months ago

Gorgeous!
Marcus Grant IPA, 2 months ago

THis is so stunning Ec, has to go in the favs…..
paul boast, 2 months ago

great capture, beautiful tiger
Al Neaimi, 2 months ago

love it
HELUA, 2 months ago

Such a lovely image! And thanks for all the information!!!
AARDVARK, 2 months ago

Good one EC.
Lucindawind, 2 months ago

magnificent a fav !
Sheila Smith, 2 months ago

I love this the eye is so intence and blue!!!!!! Are you very brave or do you have a very long lens?
Sheila Smith, 2 months ago

Just read you description. I can understand your ambiverlance about photographing these animals. It is such a sad tale. However your photos do bring the plight of these tigers to others notice. That is a good thing thank you.
MaryK, 2 months ago

Absolutely breathtaking!
TrEaSuReDiMaGeS, 2 months ago

I understand having the mixed feelings about these beautiful White Tigers it’s sort of like having a tug of war between the heart and the eyes!!! I havethose feelings too. But putting that aside….... This is a BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL shot Erin!! I think they are just Gorgeous animals!! :-)) It’s Great having you back with us, uploading your Stunning photos!! I personally sure have missed you!!
coffee4me56, 2 months ago

Very nice!!
Carmen Mandel-..., 2 months ago

Human greed, unscrupulous interests and a permanent demand for circus and entertainment venues featuring “exotic” creatures inflict endless suffering to the White Bengal Tiger. The infamous incident involving the mauling of Roy the magician by one of his white tigers ~~-one of the many individuals they inbreed and keep as “pets” in their human premises, even indoors~~- is an outstanding example of the abuse these creatures suffer and the extreme reactions they have as a consequence.

The more the public is aware that exotic in this case truly means a cruel manipulation of the White Bengal Tiger, the lesser the demand for these tigers will be. Education and awareness are primordial to erradicate the false message those unscrupulous and immoral interests intentionally propagate.

It is a good deed, Erin, to upload these images along your educational text. It is a sorrowful reality on both sides of the “desirables and “undesirables”, bringing one horrific trade the necessary means to another abhorrent practice.

Thank you for adding this beautiful face along your generous pledge to Art for Conservation. May the eyes of this magnificent creature enlighten individuals to put and end to this abuse.
Mariaan Krog, 2 months ago

Absolutely stunning! Sad history, but they are still animals that needs our protection & care. Well done on being so informative on the subject AND well done on an excellent capture.
berndt2, 2 months ago

Stunning shot : and the story behind it altered the way I then saw the picture. Now it’s still beautiful… but also somewhat accusatory. Beauty as fashion, rather than beauty as nature.
BuddyH, 2 months ago

fantastic!
Matt Halls, 2 months ago

Incredible as always Erin…such intensity in the eye, what a macro! .. and as for the story, well you’re a natural writer in getting the main message across. Terrific work!
Perspective, 2 months ago

What can I say… WOW! How brave of you to get that close… WONDERFUL capture and thank you for the info on these beautiful animals… I had no idea…
coffeetea, 2 months ago

excellent shot!
mohammed, 2 months ago

gorgeous animal fantastic shot
Kiko Kairuz, 2 months ago

beautiful shot!
AngelaFoster, 2 months ago

fantastic macro image
Rangi Matthews, 2 months ago

were im from we say ataahua which means words to do with beautiful
GregV, 2 months ago

Beautiful capture!
Paul Scarsella, 2 months ago

amazing shot Erin!!!
Beccaboo, 2 months ago

So sad,... but so,so beautiful. xxx An amazing photo, you can kinda see the sadness in its eyes, but at the same time its contentment. Gorgeous.
Walter Quirtmair, 2 months ago

Great image, the eyes are amazing.
And an interesting read, too. It’s all new to me, thanks for letting us know!
Gerguppy, 2 months ago

perfect you did it :)
Lee Martin, 2 months ago

If I had to chose my top 3 images on RB, this would be in there, this is just amazing
Matt Duncan, 2 months ago

Beautiful creature, beautiful capture.
Kudos to you for helping raise awareness of threats to such magnificent animals.
Lisa Putman, 2 months ago

Gorgeous shot of this beautiful animal. Sad the fate of many tigers at the mercy of human decisions, thanks for sharing the information. I also believe there lives are very precious and they need to be protected and well cared for. Kudos to all those caregivers doing the right thing by trying to give them the best quality of life they can provide.
Carine Boustany, 2 months ago

Love those tigers
CATNIPMEOW, 2 months ago

Your description is so accurate and so very sad…........
Your image is so very beautiful~
I protest the circus every time they come to town….not just the tigers but they are cruel to all the animals- May you be blessed for putting this where people will read it and think about it :)
lance leopold, 2 months ago

Fantastic!!!!
Jocelyn Hyers, 2 months ago

unbelievable beauty and emotion are captured here … you have done an outstanding job … thank you so much for the info you have provided .. I never go to circuses for exactly the reasons stated …
Faizan Qureshi, 2 months ago

This is absolutely stunning Erin. I love how much emotion there is in this. Well done!
Jason Ebbin, 2 months ago

I saw think just as the next page was loading:
Of course I had to go back and give you a favourite.
Jason Ebbin, 2 months ago

Opps, I just saw my typo, I meant to say:

I saw this just as the next page was loading:
Of course I had to go back and give you a favourite!
frozenfa, 2 months ago

beautiful shot!! how close were you?
oh dear.. didn’t know about the genetic defects during breedings.. that sound terrible!! how can they do that to the non-whites!
Angel Ortiz, 2 months ago

excellent.
photosbykaren, about 1 month ago

Sensational shot!
ed wong, about 1 month ago

great shot; love the eye and shallow focus esp.
Irish, about 1 month ago

TOTALLY GREAT! :)
Ishtar Olivera, about 1 month ago

Beautiful image! and thank you so much for the information!!
checkma8, about 1 month ago

Nice work! love your work
iceeyes, about 1 month ago

Amazing capture. Actually, I think Bengal tiger has been the luckiest tiger subspecies, comparing with Chinese tiger, at least. In term of the white tigers, at least most of them are healthy and able to have offspring; at look at the tiger-lions or lion-tigers, they are totally creatures of tragic.
Jan Stead JEMp..., about 1 month ago

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE FIRST FINALIST!!
Well done, and a very worthy winner…. this is a most stunning and captivating capture; and particularly awesome considering how close you were, the lens you used and that there is no cropping.
Glenda Remaklus, about 1 month ago

Congratulations…....beautiful macro shot and animal. Good clear colors…!
daffodil, about 1 month ago

Wonderful capture ! This blue eye is very expressive, great sharpness, bravo !
Jo Hoden, about 1 month ago

wonderful capture
NP1313, about 1 month ago

This is truly amazing! The sharpness in the eye is incredible and the color too! Speechless
amarica, about 1 month ago

congratulations Erin, beautiful work
alanalanalan, about 1 month ago

Very Sweet*
Very Cool
Very Awesome
Very Beautiful*beautiful work
Bevsimages, about 1 month ago

Sad but beautiful image, you have a great portfolio well done to what youre doing x ;)
naturelover, about 1 month ago

Awesome photography- such a beautiful animal !!going into my favs.
Mark Peterson, about 1 month ago

Fantastic image…Beautiful!!
faizee, 26 days ago

your description of this image is spot on… this world needs more people like you…
stunning shot btw
betha, 26 days ago

Another fine piece, such great creatures!
John Wright, 25 days ago

I’m in awe. I would have guessed a 500mm lens, not a 50! Very well done.
NautilusBlue, 25 days ago

Amazing image,! congratulations
Calum Alexander, 25 days ago

Great photo with an awesome insight into white tigers
charlena, 25 days ago

first congrads on your win, and this is just stunning, beautiful and powerful, so very well done
camerahappy, 25 days ago

No words to describe the beauty in this!
Bevsimages, 23 days ago

Yeah you won, well done x ;))
WayoftheWarrior, 18 days ago

Wow
WayoftheWarrior, 18 days ago

Wow
Lori Peters, 17 days ago

So, you are the lovley girl behind all these beautiful pictures. I see your work on the popular page all the time. I’m sure your work has been featured. It looks familiar. You are a wonderful photographer.
Sylvia Tax, 17 days ago

Great capture !
Heather Rivet..., 17 days ago

wow
George Lenz, 16 days ago

the eye color is fantastic.
Shannon Paskaruk, 12 days ago

amazing work!
SURYADI MAX, 11 days ago

Very nice
glastofaerie, 10 days ago

Fantastic image.Breathtakingly beautiful….
Carine Boustany, 10 days ago

all i can say is WOW
Mel Brackstone, 10 days ago

What a fabulous shot. I’d love to get this close to a tiger!
Ellen, 8 days ago

A beautiful capture!
Dennis Rubin IPA, 7 days ago

stunning capture, albino is not natural, but at least they are around in captivity.
Maggieposh, 6 days ago

wonderful…shot..and beautiful Animal..Mp
Notabamafan, 4 days ago

Stunningly beautiful! I love how his eye seems to reveal a boldness about him.He’s interested but not fearful.
Avril Brand, 2 days ago

Absolutely stunning photo! Thanks for the information. I am reminded of the ‘canned lions’ affair where big, brave hunters would shoot drugged lions.
cml16744, about 18 hours ago

Fantastic photo and very informative info. Thankyou