Catalina made me just as nervous as some big cats. But sometimes you get one frame with just the right pose. And I consider myself lucky to have captured Catalina in this pose. We had limited time with her because well, she’s not only a big bird but also a fast one. And ostriches can be very dangerous. Although they are considered prey to big cats, their defense mechanism is to raise their massive talons and kick the hell out of a predator. In order to keep her safe and us safe, Catalina’s trainers brought in a 20x20 metal fencing to set a perimeter around her. As we shot, the trainers would open and close the fence.