2019-06-01 Outdoor Photographer

in this issue

contributors

Don Mammoser is a

professional nature and

travel photographer

and author of a series

of e-book guides to

photograph iconic destinations around

the world. He also leads workshops

and photo tours to North American and

international destinations. See more of

his work at donmammoserphoto.com.

Dave Welling has been

capturing evocative im-

ages of the natural world

for over 25 years. He is

a charter member of the

North American Nature Photography

Association and the author of Sanctuary,

a book celebrating the work of Wildlife

Waystation. See more of his work at strik-

ingnatureimagesbydavewelling.com.

Aaron Baggenstos is

an award-winning profes-

sional wildlife photog-

rapher, videographer

and author in nature and

wildlife. In addition to his own photog-

raphy, Baggenstos leads small-group

photo tours to some of the premier

wildlife destinations on the planet. See

more of his work at aaronstours.com.

I

n this issue focused on wildlife pho-

tography, we begin with awe-inspir-

ing images from one of the world’s last

great wild places. Encompassing over

19 million square acres, Arctic National

Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is the larg-

est U.S. refuge overall and includes

roughly 8 million acres of land desig-

nated as wilderness. According to the

refuge’s website, it’s home to “42 fish

species, 37 land mammals, eight marine

mammals, and more than 200 migratory

and resident bird species.” One of those

land mammals is the porcupine caribou,

which migrate to the refuge each spring

to bear calves. The area is also home

to the Gwich’in people, for whom the

caribou have been an important source

of sustenance “for the entirety of their

cultural memory,” as photographer Peter

Mather eloquently puts it. In his article

“Keep It Wild,” Mather tells the story

of an expedition organized with the

International League of Conservation

Photographers to document the caribou

migration. As nature photographers well

know, things don’t always go according

to plan, but Mather and his fellow pho-

tographers returned home with images

that reveal the stunning vastness of this

place, a prime destination for photogra-

phy and a habitat worthy of protection

for future generations of the Gwich’in

people and visitors alike.

While destinations like the Arctic

Refuge offer the chance to witness wild-

life in truly magnificent environments,

you don’t have to travel far to find

wildlife subjects. Whether you’re a be-

ginner or a pro, there are opportunities

nearby, maybe in your own backyard.

In his article “In The Neighborhood,”

Don Mammoser offers tips for improv-

ing your skills that you can practice in

a local park or wild area. Though the

wildlife may not be “exotic,” depending

on where you live, you may still return

home with some portfolio-worthy imag-

es, and you’ll be refining your technique

so it will be second nature on your next

trip to somewhere less familiar.

One of the surest ways to find wild-

life is to scout near water sources. Using

a blind is ideal in these situations, and

as Dave Welling points out in his arti-

cle “Where Wildlife Gathers,” there are

blinds already set up and waiting for you

on both public and private lands. Well-

ing has spent considerable time photo-

graphing from blinds on ranches in Tex-

as, where the landowners have set them

up near waterholes and charge a modest

daily fee for access. “Most blinds are on

the property of landowners who are ei-

ther wildlife photographers themselves

or work with wildlife photographers

who help set up the blinds and offer

guide services,” he notes. “Some proper-

ties even offer lodging and meals so you

can stay on site.” In addition to resourc-

es for finding permanent blinds, Welling

offers lens and gear recommendations

and other insights to help you make the

most of your experience.

No matter where you find your wild-

life subjects, choosing the right camera

settings can be the difference between an

epic shot and a dud. With all of the ad-

vances in camera technology, you may

be surprised to learn that Aaron Baggen-

stos relies heavily on manual camera op-

eration. In “Shooting Modes For Wildlife

Photography,” he walks us through his

typical settings. He also considers the ad-

vantages that mirrorless cameras—and,

more specifically, the information avail-

able thanks to electronic viewfinders—

provide for wildlife photographers.

–Wes Pitts, Editor

outdoorphotographer.com June 2019 11