
Wildlife
Do not disturb: Practicing ethical wildlife photography
Wildlife photographers on the thrill of the chase — and the importance of setting ethical guidelines
- 2849 words
- 12 minutes
When it comes to judging a photo competition with thousands of entries, it’s most definitely a team effort. To bring you all behind the curtain, there are several rounds of prejudging that happen before the finalists make it to the final judging panel of Canadian Geographic’s photo competitions. All photos are judged blind — and each is given careful consideration by the Can Geo team, taking into account composition, technical execution, storytelling and more. Photography is also very subjective, and everyone has their own opinion on what makes a great shot. Alas: not everyone can be a winner. But this year, we wanted to give a shout-out to some of the entries that spoke to the team whose desks these images crossed. Maybe they made us laugh, maybe they transported us somewhere, or maybe they simply told a story. Here are the Can Geo team’s highlights.
Bridled murre by Cameron Hunter
I’m pretty sure this is how my face looks when I open my inbox on a Monday morning. A beautiful bird and not a subject we see often among our competition entries!
Prairie thunderstorm by Carmen Therriault
I’m jealous of every single prairie storm photo I see. Ontario gets some crazy thunderstorms in the summer, but it’s hard to find wide-open vistas like this where you can just sit back and appreciate a beautiful storm structure and crisp cloud-to-ground lightning.
Designated route by Tyler Cave
The storytelling in this image is top-notch, with the bear seeming to thumb its nose at the “designated route” intended to keep human visitors to Churchill, Man., safe from the predators that roam into this subarctic community.
Raven’s domain by Liron Gertsman
Frankly, I cannot resist a raven shot. And this is just a gorgeous one. Throw in a stunning mountain backdrop, crisp iridescent feathers and the capture of this incredible bird’s beautiful flight — this image hits the spot for me.
Charred land by Jillian A. Brown
The story this photo tells is a desolate one — but there’s hope, too. While the foreground at first glance just shows the charred remains of this forest after a wildfire, look closer and we see a lone elk resting, patches of green sprouting up through the black earth. Life always finds a way.
Chillin’ after lunch by Lisa Adler
Look for the bear necessities, the simple bear necessities. We see a lot of bear photos here at Can Geo but there’s something about this photo that makes it stand out. Maybe it’s the intimacy of the encounter, with the bear cub’s eyes meeting the photographer as it relaxes in this tree after its lunch of salmon. Maybe it’s the softness of the moss or the pop of colour of the autumn leaves. Either way, it almost makes you forget about your worries and your strife.
Basking in the spotlight by Floor Terpstra
Are you… high?? Whatever your thoughts are on camera trap photography, you have to admit they provide intimate access to moments that people would otherwise never witness. This photo makes me feel like a parent arriving home early to find three teens who’ve been sneaking a few puffs of something they shouldn’t have. Left cougar: “As long as I maintain eye contact they won’t be able to tell.” Middle cougar: “Wuh… wuhh??” Top right cougar: *Nothing but the faint sound of its one brain cell bouncing around its empty head*
Peek-a-boo by Aiden Conners
Is it just me, or does anyone else see food-related items in this photo? The eye to me resembles the perfect peppermint candy, and at the top, I can’t unsee a peeled half onion. Photos from the underwater world will never fail to impress me because it’s just something I don’t get to see every day, and it reminds me that we have some pretty crazy looking things underwater.
Naked Fainting Goat aurora by Gerald Situ
This photographer definitely understood the assignment when we asked for “Outdoor Adventure.” For me, it’s the fact that this person doesn’t even look harnessed! I am all for adventure, but this will have to be a no from me… unless you can promise me pretty northern lights views like this each time; then we’ll talk. I wonder if the photographer was also on a wire? Extra points if they were.
Lake Louise turns by Will Lambert
I like that this was more of an action shot than just outdoorsy! It feels more creative and balanced while using solid camera techniques.
Nightlife at the Hub by Kari Luhtasaari
GHOSTBUSTERS! Who you gonna call when you see ghosts dancing in the sky? A mesmerizing pattern that’ll catch anyone’s eye!
Golden hour catch by Anastasiia Khvostyk
A small catch but a bigger bond. I like how the photo showcases how each person is playing a part within this fishing trip, demonstrating how one action is important to the next. Friends or brothers, they’re all connected by one line. [Editor’s note: this photo was eliminated during the screening stage of the contest because it wasn’t taken in Canada, but we all agreed it was a fantastic photo.]
Heart of the city by Christina Doherty
Our cover runner up! To see two female photographers go toe-to-toe in our cover vote was amazing to see! Regardless of the final result, Christina Doherty deserves as much recognition for this majestic fox.
Wildlife
Wildlife photographers on the thrill of the chase — and the importance of setting ethical guidelines
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