My interest in the hobby of wildlife photography started in early spring of 2008.  I was driving backroads west of Calgary, looking for old barns and other things that would be useful for backgrounds in paintings of rusted antique vehicles, another hobby of mine.

I was travelling with a buddy who had recently convinced me to purchase a basic DSLR camera and small zoom lense.  Up until then, my experience had been limited to the simplest of 35mm snap-shot models. I had a lot to learn.

Thoughts of photographing wildlife for paintings had crossed my mind a  few times over the years, but they were quickly erased due to lack of adequate equipment and the technical fortitude to use it.

During a stop on a gravel road, we noticed a Tree Swallow flying in and out of a fencepost birdhouse.  It's irridescent blue-green feathers lit by the sun was worth a few shots, and at the end of the day it was still the most interesting thing I'de seen.  The challenge and excitement of photographing wildlife was suddenly very appealing to me.  Within a few weeks I discovered a Fox den and was able to get a few unprofessional shots of a curious youngster at close range and the same thing at a Coyote den soon after. I was hooked. 

I traded in my fuel hungry pickup for a gutless miser, upgraded my camera gear, and hit the road at every opportunity.  As I found more and more animals, I also found a great appreciation for their beauty and ability to survive.  Along with the satisfaction of the occasional good photo comes an eagerness to observe and learn about them.

I'm fortunate to live in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where each direction from my hometown of Cochrane Alberta offers it's own unique variety of wildlife and landscape.  Even so, the abundance of interesting animals in Canada changes drastically depending on the season.   The trick is to find the right subject, hopefully at reasonable distance, with good surroundings, well posed, and in the right type of light....and since almost all wildlife sees you as a threat, it's a bonus when they stick around long enough for you to set the camera and get a few shots. You need to be both patient and lucky.  It's all about being in the right place at the right time. It  helps to be sneaky and willing to get your knees dirty.

I believe that wildlife photography should be done in the wild, without bait and with the least amount of stress to the animal as possible, even if it means not getting a single image.  I'm fascinated with Owls and Bears in particular, but it's all good. After a minor heart attack in 2004, I've realized how much I had taken the wonders of nature for granted.  Even when there is nothing to be found for weeks or sometimes months, it's still great to be out there looking.

I hope to keep learning about the animals, improve as a photographer, and see more North American wildlife.  And I hope you enjoy these photos.

Pete.

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