Bluffer’s Notes
This prolific nature photographer conveys a positive view of the planet through his work
Learn all about Art Wolfe, renowned nature photographer
Art Wolfe is one of the world’s foremost nature photographers. He’s best-known for his images of wildlife, but his work also includes landscapes, portraits of indigenous cultures and fine-art studio nudes. He has been praised by, among others, Sir David Attenborough, who said: “Art Wolfe’s photographs are a superb evocation of some of the most breathtaking spectacles in the world.”
How did he get into photography?
Wolfe was born in 1951 and brought up in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. His parents were both commercial artists, and he frequently drew and painted as a child. He was also fascinated by animals and insects from an early age.
While studying fine arts and art education at the University of Washington, he began taking a camera on weekend hikes and climbs. Soon he was spending less time painting and more time taking photographs.
How did he establish himself as a photographer?
In 1978, Wolfe published his first book of photographs, Indian Baskets of the Northwest Coast, which illustrated text by his friend and mentor Allan Lobb. Soon afterwards, he began shooting for magazines including National Geographic. He has maintained a prolific output ever since, and has photographed in hundreds of locations worldwide.
Why did his 1994 book Migrations cause controversy?
The book concentrated on patterns made by animals migrating in large numbers. However, in around a third of the images Wolfe used digital techniques to clone in extra animals. He argued it was acceptable because it was “an art book and not a treatise on natural history… I have enhanced the patterns of animals much as a painter would do on a canvas.”
What other books has he published?
He has published more than 90 books, including Tribes (1997), featuring portraits of 35 tribal groups around the world; The Living Wild (2000), which made the case for the urgent need for wildlife conservation; and Vanishing Act (2006), which looked on camouflage in nature. He has also produced a number of technique books, including The Art of the Photograph (2014).
Another of his projects was The Human Canvas – what was different about this compared with his other works?
It was a series of black-and-white male and female nudes, some single and some in groups, which Wolfe shot in his studio. He painted the models’ bodies to create textures, patterns and shapes, and in turn arranged the models themselves in patterns. An initial collection of these images was published in 2012, but it’s an ongoing series.
Which awards has he won?
Awards include the Progress Medal from the Photographic Society of America, for his contribution to the advancement of the art and science of photography, and an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society.
Is Wolfe hopeful about the planet’s future?
“I’m hard-wired to find the beauty and the inspiration in whatever subject I shoot,” he said in a recent interview. “Climate change threatens our lives and we’ve got to solve it. But I cannot allow myself to get mired down in depression or misery... I am eternally optimistic that we can solve the issues we face.”