Capturing Wildlife in the Northland
Spring time smells like fresh air, sounds like birds chirping, and looks like the landscape is breaking out its hibernation season. As spring time rolls into the Northland, many people are feeling the urge to break the cycle of hibernation and get back into the outdoors. For many photographers including myself, we are eager to step back out into the Northland and capture new images of wildlife that are coming out of hibernation as well.
The Northland is home to many wildlife photographers including Jim Edlhuber, a self-taught wildlife photographer. He originally became interested in wildlife photography when he would go outside and observe the nature around him. “I was attracted to birds right from the beginning” Edlhuber said.
One of the most appealing factors of wildlife photography is the uniqueness in each shot and the patience one must have in order to get a shot that really captures the animal in that moment. Edlhuber said he has picked up a few tips and tricks from his involvement in camera clubs but majority of his skills have been from trial and error.
He said, “The challenge of knowing that I can always go out and take better pictures tomorrow than I did today inspires me to continue to take wildlife photos.”
Wildlife photography can be tricky because the photographer is entering an animal’s space, and the photographer needs to maintain a certain distance away from their subject. Like any other form of photography, it takes patience, practice, and knowledge of ethical practices and photography laws.
I can attest from my own experience that taking photographs of wild animals takes a lot of patience and practice. I do not have as much experience as Jim Edlhuber, but his advice to me was to practice, practice, practice. The more time you invest into something that you are passionate about, the more likely you are to become more skilled at it. He also told me to stay informed on the ethics of wildlife photography.
One of the most recent ethical dilemmas in wildlife photography is the practice of baiting wildlife in order to take a photograph that otherwise may not have been possible. To many of the professional photographers, including Edlhuber, it can become obvious whether ot not a photographer used baiting tools to capture a photograph.
“I can tell, for example, in a photo of a fox that it was being baited with food because of how it is looking at the camera,” Edlhuber said, “I think it’s wrong.” He said that he has never used baiting as a tool and said he never will.
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The term “baiting” in the realm of wildlife photography means that a photographer, professional or amateur will use mice or other food to attract various wildlife in the area in order to capture a photograph of an animal that may have otherwise not been possible.
Another wildlife photographer, Michael Furtman has been very vocal about his views on owl baiting through social media and through other news sources. He spoke with Dan Kraker of Minnesota Public Radio saying that baiting wildlife is not only unethical, but can be harmful to the owls. The reason why it is unethical is because according to most photography associations across the world, they say to respect your subjects and respect their environment. It comes down to the most basic form of treating your subjects, including wild animals with the same respect that you would expect in return.
“I feel that for the most part photographers are good people, respect species spaces.” Edlhuber said.
Other aspects of the wildlife photography community are the contests and the awards. Edlhuber has accumulated various awards and honorable mentions dating from 2007 to his most recent award in December 2016.
Photography awards and contests help to build and maintain the legitimacy of photography being an art form that people from any background can express themselves. It also maintains the larger community of photographers in the United States.
Another factor that has helped to grow the photography community is the growth of social media. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allow people to form groups and connect in ways that we could not before.
Instagram accounts such as Destination Duluth is an account that is also connected to a larger website that helps connect photographers in the Duluth area. Using hashtags and showcasing other photographers on their page enhances the community aspect and reinforces the power that social networks can have.
I use these hashtags as on my own Instagram account, not to get recognition but to add to a larger photo gallery that people on Instagram can find and enjoy as well.
Wildlife photography can be amazing and powerful. As long as we respect their boundaries, we can do no harm to them. They will continue to prosper and be independent of humans.
