Reflections of Nature
The best of the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s 2019 cross-canada photo contest
Wildlife photography is a passion for thousands of Canadians. Whether we use a handy smartphone or a high-end DSLR with super-duper telephoto, we are pursuing the same thing: a personal lasting glimpse of nature’s ever-changing beauty and with it a sense of place
Today, wildlife photography is a passion for thousands of Canadians. Whether we are using a handy smartphone or a high-end DSLR with super-duper telephoto, we are pursuing the same thing: a personal lasting glimpse of nature’s ever-changing beauty and with it a sense of place. We find it wherever we look, micro and macro, far and wide or near and strait, up above and down below. We take pictures out of our love of the outdoors, of nature, of life. The wonder of nature photography, when done well and responsibly, is that it has no negative impact on its subject. “You don’t really ‘take’ a picture,” the saying goes, “you borrow it.” The question becomes, how do we pay nature back?
In the near future, nature photography will have an increasingly important role as conservation challenges mount and more action is required. As the influential American photographer Dorothea Lange observed, “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” What we see here in these many extraordinary photographs, in addition to a photographer’s eye, technical skill and fantastic timing, is the infinite, fragile variety of nature.
I joined friends on a visit to Sheffield Mills in Canning, Nova Scotia, to attend the annual Eagle Watch. I loved the morning light shining on this eagle as it stood quietly looking regal. Suddenly, a couple of other eagles began flying overhead and it struck this, most likely protective, pose.
This image captured a special moment. The sunlight hitting its chest, its amazing wingspan and its head turned towards the sky all lined up perfectly. I feel like the eagle is expressing gratitude for being in its native environment. The eagle looks so glorious, and since the world appears to be in some turmoil these days, I think it sends an uplifting message for all of us to appreciate the natural beauty around us.
I picked up my first camera when I was 18. After I was diagnosed with a severe immune disorder, my doctor suggested I should take my camera and get out for some exercise. Getting back into photography and exercising is a helpful form of meditation.
I captured this image at the end of a test of my new underwater housing. As the sun was going down, the light coming through the water beautifully lit the lilies. I grew up snorkelling in this lake but had never been able to share what I saw beneath the surface. Unlike oceans and lakes, the world below the waterline in marshes and ponds isn’t often seen. This image brings a captivating perspective to this mysterious ecosystem.
I’ve been shooting photos since I was very young, taking photos of hummingbirds in the backyard, flowers around the neighbourhood and little bits of nature. My dad was a huge inspiration for my photography: he loved shooting photos as a hobby, and I grew up hearing his stories about him diving off the coast of Massachusetts, using a waterproof housing that he had constructed himself. He passed away when I was a teenager, but his love for photography grew with me.
We were absolutely thrilled to find and observe this grizzly bear attempting to catch a salmon along the river. I positioned myself as low as possible in our tiny boat to get the perspective of the bear chest-deep in water, while underexposing the images to highlight the rim lighting on the bear’s fur and the water droplets. The entire experience was incredible, being able to safely share this moment with such an iconic species!
What I enjoy most about this image is the intimate nature of the connection with this individual grizzly bear, as well as the intriguing lighting. The bear’s delicately rim-lit fur and the water droplets add a captivating composition.
I thoroughly enjoy nature photography in all its forms, from massive mega-fauna, to delicate macro imagery. I hope my photography instills inspiration, knowledge and appreciation for the subject and makes people wonder about the beauty and adaptations of a particular species. I have been photographing wildlife for around seven years. I got started as a natural progression of my love and deep interest in the natural world and inter-species interactions. I am a self-taught photographer, but I seek inspiration from those who share my wonder and conservation ethos. For example, I very much love and appreciate the work of Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
What I love most about nature photography is sharing time and moments with many of the greatest wildlife species on our planet and feeling the beauty that resonates throughout nature.
Nighttime photography shoot at the Hopewell Rocks — it seems like I was in outer space! What I like about the photo is the stars, the incredible sky and the landscape. I love nature photography because I love being outside and capturing beautiful places. Travel and nature photography have been a passion for 20+ years.
This little brown bat was on the wall of my workplace, and I found it very exciting, as I have not seen one in years. I like this photo because it’s rare to get a picture of these nocturnal guys.
I have been taking pictures for over 20 years. I am always out in nature and love capturing its beauty.
I took this photo during a dreamy morning of paddling in the Jacques-cartier River valley. The conditions were perfect: the sky was clear, and there was no wind. You feel alone in the world when you find yourself in the heart of this vastness.
I like the reflection of the mountains on the calm waters of the river and the horizon line that is lost in the clouds of fog.
I’ve devoted myself to nature photography for the past five years, particularly wildlife for the past two years. It’s a passion that takes up most of my free time. When I go outside in search of photos, being in contact with nature is a source of real happiness.
I was on a kayak journey in the Broughton Archipelago, to the northeast of Vancouver Island. I had heard some whales, and I had spotted some fins and tails here and there, but seeing them feed was still something I could only dream of.
I was crossing between two islands when I saw all those birds bypassing me, flocking in one direction, and then start circling around. Suddenly, I heard a blow, saw the spray on one side of the birds and then a fluke tail. The birds became more and more agitated. When the whale breached out of the water, I was amazed by its size. I could see little fish jumping out of its mouth, trying to escape. This photo captures a scene from nature with a whole ecosystem working together to tell a story.
Since I was a kid, I have always played outside, hiking, building huts in the woods and admiring every animal that has crossed my path. Nature photography allows me to combine two hobbies: being outside and art.