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Images from CanadianGeographic’s Photo Club

SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION

B E S T

WILDLIFEPHOTOGRAPHY 20


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PHOTOCLUB


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EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK 5BY TYRONE BURKE

INTRODUCTION 7BY MICHELLE VALBERG

ON THE PROWL 8

THINGS WITH WINGS 40

WHAT’S IN THE WATER 68

JUNIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS 92

BEST WILDLIFE

PHOTOGRAPHY 2014

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40

68

92 F R O N T C O V E R : J O H N Z I M M E R M A N ; B A C K C O V E R : D A V I D W H I T E


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5/100CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC

Worth the waitSorting through the year’s best wildlife photography is one of the privi-leges of working at Canadian Geographic. Every year I marvel at thecalibre of the images we receive through our contests. Not only amI impressed by the photographic skill, I’m blown away by the patienceit takes to get so close to breaching humpbacks and tiny tree frogs.

I have wide-eyed admiration for wildlife photographers. Even thoughthe genre has always been my favourite type of photography to lookat, I’ve had lile success actually producing any. Never the most

patient (or light-footed) person, I frighten off animals long before I geta decent shot.

Yet, with our photo club members as inspiration, I finally got into awildlife blind this spring and waited it out. Hours before dawn, I seledin next to hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes, which were pass-ing through Nebraska’s Plae River Valley as they migrated towardCanada’s Far North for the summer.

Each minute I shivered in the darkness, I gained yet more respectfor the toughness of wildlife photographers. Then the sun finallycrested the horizon, and thousands of cranes stirred and swooped.When a hunting eagle zoomed in and sent the cranes scaering,

I suddenly understood where wildlife photographers find their patience.There’s no spectacle on Earth that can match nature in action.It’s worth waiting for.

Tyrone Burke

Sorting throuorti throleges of workilecalibre of thecaliI impressed b II esse Iit takes to getget

I have wideI idethe enre haenre

ESIDENT AND PUBLISHER André Préfontaine

E-PRESIDENT, CONTENT CREATION Gilles Gagnier

OJECT EDITOR Tyrone BurkeNIOR EDITOR Aaron KylieEATIVE DIRECTOR Suzanne MorinSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Mike Elston

SOCIATE EDITOR Harry WilsonSISTANT EDITOR Nick WalkerW MEDIA EDITOR Heather YundtCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Sabrina DoyleSTOM PUBLISHING EDITOR Michel a Rosano

NSULTANTS Roger Bird, Canadian Museum of Nature, Royal Ontarioseum

OTO EDITOR Laura StanleyAPHIC DESIGNER Ksenia NigmanovaODUCTION COORDINATOR Kendra StielerW MEDIA DEVELOPER Paul PolitisLOUR TECHNICIAN Glenn Campbell

ERNS Brendan McConnell, Siobhan McClelland, Justin Nalepa,my Thomson

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Animal insincFrom aop a small cliff, I could see clumps of walruses gruning andwrihing en masse on he beachfron. I was a grea vanage poin,bu I waned o ge closer. Much closer.

Led by my guide, I crep up slowly, unil I was wihin a mere ofhe herd. The firs hing ha hi me was he smell: an overpoweringscen of 10,000 we animals, like a feid beachfron barnyard. I wasamazing o be so close.

Under he fla ligh of cloud cover, I sho close-ups of hewalruses’ leahery, ancien-looking skin, bulbous eyes and whiskers.Jus as I decided i was ime o go and urned away, here wasa hunderous sound — he herd was on he move. I fired off a fewshos, bu I wasn’ even sure if my camera was in focus. My sensesold me just shoot .

The dus kicked up by he walruses creaed an ehereal mis,illuminaed by he sun as i peeked hrough he clouds. In hamomen, everyhing came ogeher. I go “he sho.”

When phoographing wildlife I ry o be atenive, o anicipaewha an animal will do nex. Even a sligh change can ransform an

ordinary phoo ino somehing exraordinary, bu you can overhinkhings oo. Someimes a phoographer’s mos valuable ool is insinc.Michelle Valberg

I wasn’t even sureif my camera wasin focus. My sensestold me ‘just shoot.’

From aop a IFrom ao a Iwrihing en Iw Ibu I wanedb I

Led by m I II Ihe herd. Thscen of 10, Is Iamazin oa


8/100BEST WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 2014 ON THE PROWL8

ON THE PROW



A wild animal never knows if its most

recent meal was its last. There are no

guarantees that the next hunt will be

fruitful. With ears perked and claws

drawn, predators need to be constantlyalert. When the time comes to make

the kill, there is lile room for error. An

animal needs to eat, or it will eventually

be eaten itself.

wild animal nevd ani

recent mea was ien ea

guarantees t at tuar t

fruitful. ith earfr e

rawn re atorsors

Swimming upstream to spawn, salmon navigate therush of rapids and leap up waterfalls. All that exertion

necessitates rejuvenation, and as they rest salmon are

vulnerable to predators like this hungry black bear,

photographed by Kevin Mazur.

Photographer: Kevin MazurLocation: Near Tofino, B.C.Species: Black bear and salmonCamera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 70-200 mm lensPortfolio: mazurimages.ca

Fast food

CONTESTrunner-up

WILDLIFE



“Large males oen weigh more than 700 kilograms,

but my guide estimated that this polar bear was just

400,” says Jenny Stevens. “The ice melted early,stranding him 80 kilometres from Baffi n Island. My

guide didn’t think the bear would make it to winter.”

Photographer: Jenny StevensLocation: Near Baffi n Island, NunavutSpecies: Polar bearCamera: Nikon D90, 70-200 mm lens

Rocky road


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Images from CanadianGeographic’s Photo Club

SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION

B E S T

WILDLIFEPHOTOGRAPHY 20

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Kermode bears are one of Canada’s most unique

animals, and the gene that gives these black bears white

fur is rare. In parts of their range, less than one per centof bears are white, and even in their densest concentra-

tions, lile more than 30 per cent have white fur.

Photographer: Jenny StevensLocation: Gribbell Island, B.C.Species: Kermode bearCamera: Nikon D90, 400 mm lens

Rare bear



While out fishing in his kayak on the north coast of

Vancouver Island, Steven Rose spoed this bear in

search of somewhat humbler prey. “Black bears will li

rocks and throw them around like pebbles as theymooch around for sea slugs and crabs.”

Photographer: Steven RoseLocation: Near Port Hardy, B.C.Species: Black bearCamera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 200 mm lensPortfolio: stevenrosephotography.com

Slippery slope



During the months they’re awake, grizzlies eat almost

constantly, but immediately aer hibernation they eat

very lile. It takes time for their bodies to return to

normal. This newly awake bear was flipping logs anddigging in the dirt for food when Chris Gale spoed it.

Wild animals don’t take direction, and geing them in

the right position is one of wildlife photography’s chal-

lenges. “This cub was very co-operative,” says Jenaya

Launstein. “He climbed from branch to branch,snacking on leaves.”

Photographer: Chris GaleLocation: Near Buckinghorse River, B.C.Species: Grizzly bearCamera: Nikon D7000, 24-70 mm lensPortfolio: wildnorthphotos.com

Photographer: Jenaya LaunsteinLocation: Waterton Lakes National Park, Alta.Species: Black bearCamera: Nikon D300, 200-400 mm lensPortfolio: launsteinimagery.com

Get up, stand up The bear up there



A grizzly bear can take down an elk or even a moose,

and they’re famous for their skill as salmon fishers, but

these giant mammals aren’t just carnivores. Given the

chance, they’ll eat almost anything, including sweet

berries and bier dandelion stems.

Photographer: Terry BiltonLocation: Near McBride, B.C.Species: Grizzly bearCamera: Nikon D7000, 70-200 mm lensPortfolio: terrybiltonphotography.com

Vegetarian option



Some species are threatened by urbanization; others thrive

in it. The red fox is of the laer group. Feeding on small

wildlife and scavenging trash, they’ve colonized cities in

Japan, Australia and Canada — and much in between.Lise De Serres photographed this one in Montreal.

While scouting campsites for the coming summer, Nat

Miller came across this photogenic fox lounging in a Kil

Provincial Park campground. “For half an hour she lay i

bush and sniffed around. It was the most beautiful fox I

seen, and the best chance I’ve had to photograph one.

Photographer: Lise De SerresLocation: MontrealSpecies: Red foxCamera: Nikon D3S, 70-200 mm lensPortfolio: pbase.com/lizzee

Photographer: Nathan MillerLocation: Near Parry Sound, Ont.Species: Red foxCamera: Canon EOS 60D, 300 mm lensPortfolio: amphotographyinfo.ca

Foxtrot The red fox lounge



CONTESTrunner-up

WILDLIFEThe red fox can carve out a life in the tropics or in the

Canadian Rockies, where Terri Shaddick photographed

this one. It owes its adaptability in part to its eatinghabits. These foxes will consume whatever’s around,

from delectable berries to tiny rodents.

“I’d spent the day shooting the year’s first snowfall,

when I noticed something in the distance,” says Shirley

A. Davis. “I parked, rolled my window down and waitedTo my delight, this coyote troed past with a hare in it

mouth and no concern for my camera.”

Photographer: Terri ShaddickLocation: Jasper National Park, Alta.Species: Red foxCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 300 mm lensPortfolio: epicphotos.ca

Photographer: Shirley A. DavisLocation: Near Canmore, Alta.Species: CoyoteCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 100-400 mm lensPortfolio: surelyadavisphoto.com

Quite a mouthful The waiting game



“Usually I head wherever the storms seem to be mov-ing,” says Ian McGregor. “When I saw this

ominous cloud, I turned down the nearest road

and captured this image from the side.”

Photographer: Ian McGregorLocation: Near Yorkton, SaskatchewanSpecies: 24ºCCamera: Canon 50D, 300 mm lensPortfolio: www.ianmcgregorphotography.com

Light and shade



Wolf packs have a culture all their own. Within the

pack, wolves will fight with each other to establish

dominance, but at heart they’re a lot like other dogs.

They love to play — rough.

Photographer: John ZimmermanLocation: Montebello, Que.Species: WolfCamera: Canon 1D Mark IV, 70-200 mm lensPortfolio: johnzimmermanphotography.ca

Pack mentality


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CONTESThonourable

mention

WILDLIFE“On a beautiful December day I went for a drive, hoping to find some

wildlife to photograph,” says Michelle Valberg. “I saw a bit of moveme

out of the corner of my eye, and only had one opportunity to get a sho

before the coyote was gone.”

Photographer: Michelle ValbergLocation: OawaSpecies: Coyote

Camera: Nikon D4, 200-400 mm lensPortfolio: michellevalberg.com

Jump around

Many animals blend into their native environments,

but rarely is their camouflage as uniform as this Arctic

wolf’s. Since the expansive spaces where these wolves

roam is unusually monochromatic, the perfect camo

is snow-white.

Photographer: Bill MaynardLocation: Montebello, Que.Species: WolfCamera: Nikon D700, 200-400 mm lensPortfolio: coolwildlife.com

Whiteout



For some wildlife images, photographers shiver in

blinds in the wee hours. Other photos come a bit

more easily. “This was a very curious wolf,” says

Jesse Schpakowski. “It approached me, and aer

a while it even lay down and fell asleep!”

Photographer: Jesse SchpakowskiLocation: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alta.Species: WolfCamera: Nikon D90, 300 mm lensPortfolio: wildlensphotography.ca

Stare down



They’ve been persecuted for being among nature’s

fiercest predators, but lone wolves oen struggle

to meet their food needs. “They are highly social

animals,” says Bill Maynard. “Their survival is

dependant on the co-operation of the pack.”

Photographer: Bill MaynardLocation: Montebello, Que.Species: WolfCamera: Nikon D700, 600 mm lensPortfolio: coolwildlife.com

Wolf pack



Wolf pups develop quickly. At just six months

of age, they are nearly full size. To grow so

quickly, they need their sleep. “This pup had

just finished a play session,” says Bill Maynard.

“I managed to fire a shot off just as he seled in

for a rather enduring sleep.”

Plenty of city parks claim to be nature oases,

but few have the wildlife to back it up. Fish

Creek Provincial Park, Alta., where Peter

Vaudry photographed this coyote, is an

exception. Though surrounded by Calgary,

it’s home to coyotes, deer, beavers and bears.

Photographer: Bill Maynard

Location: Montebello, Que.Species: WolfCamera: Nikon D300, 200-400 mm lensPortfolio: coolwildlife.com

Photographer: Peter Vaudry

Location: CalgarySpecies: CoyoteCamera: Nikon D300, 300 mm lensPortfolio: vaud.smugmug.com

Why so serious? On alert



During the rut, white-tailed deer can get into some

intense scraps, but bucks don’t only fight during

mating season. Other times of year, their conflicts

are more playful, more like roughhousing than a

life-or-death duel.

Photographer: Jim CummingLocation: Kanata, Ont.Species: White-tailed deerCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 70-200 mm lensPortfolio: redbubble.com/people/darby8

Bucks unlimited



The bighorn sheep’s bales are a force of nature,and this ram’s horns look a lile worse for the wear.

“It’s a show of power when rams hurl themselves at

each other,” says James Anderson. “The resounding

crash echoes through the mountains.”

Photographer: James AndersonLocation: Kootenay National Park, B.C.Species: Bighorn sheepCamera: Canon EOS Rebel T2i, 70-250 mm lensPortfolio: flickr.com/photos/jamesa1

Horn of plenty



Sheep are synonymous with meekness, but bighornsheep can be anything but. They’ve even been known

to aack automobiles. “It looked so gentle,” says

Francis The. “Yet it had these sharp and powerful

horns that could hurt any human.”

Photographer: Francis TheLocation: Jasper National Park, Alta.Species: Bighorn sheepCamera: Canon EOS Rebel XS, 75-300 mm lens

Tough customer



CONTESTwinner

WILDLIFE

They may be tiny, but they’re lethal when they need

to be. Jumping spiders are less than a centimetre in

diameter, but when hunger strikes they can precisely

take down larger prey, and unlike many of their arachnid

cousins, they don’t need a web to do it.

Photographer: Alain FrecheeLocation: Mascouche, Que.Species: Jumping spider with flyCamera: Nikon D90, 105 mm lensPortfolio: pbase.com/alain_frechee

Webless wonder



The smooth green snake is one of Canada’s

most striking reptiles. Its brightly coloured scalescamouflage it in open grasslands and along the

edge of bodies of water like Ontario’s Charleston

Lake, where Shannon McCormick found this one.

Photographer: Shannon McCormickLocation: Charleston Lake, Ont.Species: Smooth green snakeCamera: Canon EOS Rebel XTi, 50-250 mm lens

Serpentine



Like other herons, the long-legged green heron stalks its prey while

standing motionless in shallow waters, but this clever bird also uses

bait. Green herons set insects and other bits of food on the water

to tempt fish and frogs into range.

Photographer: Bill McMullenLocation: OawaSpecies: Green heronCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 400 mm lensPortfolio: billmcmullenphotography.com

Took the bait



Millions of years before dinosaurs, there were

spiders. They’ve endured because they’re highly

effi cient predators. “Watching this one wrap its prey

was incredible,” says Lise Simoneau. “My finger was

glued to the shuer. I didn’t want to miss any action.”

Photographer: Lise SimoneauLocation: Quebec CitySpecies: European garden spiderCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 180 mm lens

Web of life


41/100BEST WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 2014 THINGS WITH WINGS40

THINGS WITH



The earliest fossil evidence of the

evolution of wings in the Western

Hemisphere was unearthed in Alberta,

but the first feathers weren’t for flight.

These prehistoric plumes were usedto impress potential mates. With such

aesthetic origins, it’s no surprise that

millions of years later, winged animals

are still among the most beautiful

of all species.

WINGS

e ear iestea

evo ution outi

emisphereis

but the first fthe

ese re istse

Still groggy and not yet ready to launch into theday’s flight, this dragonfly was patient enough to let

Brian Robin set up his camera and lights. “The bright

markings are almost neon, and are much easier to

appreciate when a dragonfly stays still.”

Photographer: Brian RobinLocation: Desboro, Ont.Species: Canadian darnerCamera: Pentax K100d, 100 mm macro lensPortfolio: flickr.com/photos/bprobin

Still life

CONTESTwinner

WILDLIFE



CONTESThonourable

mention

WILDLIFEBirds can be skiish, and even if you have a long lens, it’s tough

to get close enough to get the shot. “I approached this snowy owl

slowly, hoping for a decent picture,” says Rick Dobson. “It flew away,

but took a look at me over its wing as it lied off.”

Photographer: Rick DobsonLocation: St. Isidore, Ont.Species: Snowy owlCamera: Canon EOS 30D, 500 mm lensPortfolio: rickdobsonphotography.com

Flighty



Northern saw-whet owls hide away in dense conifers where they’re

diffi cult to spot. “I was about ready to turn around because of the

density of the brush,” says Rick Dobson. “I surveyed the

situation, and this beautiful owl was staring right back at me.”

Photographer: Rick DobsonLocation: Amherst Island, Ont.Species: Northern saw-whet owlCamera: Canon EOS 50D, 50 mm lensPortfolio: rickdobsonphotography.com

Island hideaway



Some migrations are like clockwork, with birds returning to the samelocations every year. Snowy owls are far less predictable. Their ranges

fluctuate: some years they can be spoed as far south as Texas, and

some years they stick closer to Canadian soil.

Photographer: Jenaya LaunsteinLocation: Near CalgarySpecies: Snowy owlCamera: Nikon D300, 200-400 mm lensPortfolio: launsteinimagery.com

Home on the range



“This owl generally ignored my presence, apart from th

one moment when it looked straight down the lens,”

says John Lowman. “It was just before sunset, and as it

was hunting it flew toward the camera, revealing the

intensity of its search for prey.”

Photographer: John LowmanLocation: Boundary Bay, B.C.Species: Snowy owlCamera: Canon 1D Mark IV, 500 mm lensPortfolio: johnlowmanphotography.ca

Intensity



Hawks and falcons are the bird species usually favoured by falconers

as trained hunting partners. Slow and stubborn, it is far less com-

mon for owls to be trained. This one cooperated with its falconerlong enough for Frank Vadovic to get a few shots of it in action.

Photographer: Frank VadovicLocation: Rondeau Provincial Park, Ont.Species: Great horned owlCamera: Nikon D300, 80-400 mm lens

Just watch me



“Northern flickers are common in B.C., and these two came to

my deck and fought nearly every day for weeks in April,” says

Krisztina Harasztosi. “Sometimes they’d stand face to face forminutes at a time, then jump into the air and fight again.”

Photographer: Krisztina HarasztosiLocation: Gibsons, B.C.Species: Northern flickerCamera: Canon EOS 6D, 70-300 mm lensPortfolio: hakristi.com

Faceoff



Bald eagles aren’t born with their unmistakable plumage.

Youthful eagles have dark feathers on their heads, which are

gradually replaced by white ones at they get older. Just as with

humans, the bald look is something that comes with age.

Photographer: Julie DrummondLocation: Montebello, Que.Species: Bald eagleCamera: Canon EOS Rebel XTi, 75-300 mm lens

Bold-faced



With eyesight five times sharper than a human’s, bald eagles

are finely tuned hunting machines. But even though they can

spot prey that’s well over a kilometre away, eagles still end up

dining on carrion when they fail to catch dinner.

Photographer: Steven RoseLocation: Near Port Hardy, B.C.Species: Bald eagleCamera: Canon Mark IV, 400 mm lensPortfolio: stevenrosephotography.com

Eagle-eyed



CONTESTrunner-up

WILDLIFEWhen soaring on thermals, turkey vultures are oen mistaken for

eagles or hawks, but their wobbly flying technique is nowhere near

as graceful. Turkey vultures are actually related to storks, and since

they’re not hunters, they’re not fancy fliers.

Photographer: Roger LeekamLocation: Mount Nemo Conservation Area, Ont.Species: Turkey vultureCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 400 mm lensPortfolio: flickr.com/photos/69233563@N07

Vulture culture



CONTESTrunner-up

WILDLIFEThe hooded merganser’s name doesn’t really do it

justice. The male of this tiny duck species sports spiky

feathers that just might be the most impressive mohawk

in the animal kingdom.

Photographer: Serge ChenardLocation: Sherbrooke, Que.Species: Hooded merganserCamera: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 800 mm lensPortfolio: sergechenard.zenfolio.com

How’s my hair?


54/100



Pygmy nuthatches are usually found in mountain forests, but

Ron E. Racine photographed this lone nuthatch at his backyard

fountain. “It had taken a bath and was literally dripping wet.

I managed to catch a drop just before it fell.”

Photographer: Ron E. RacineLocation: Kelowna, B.C.Species: Pygmy nuthatchCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 600 mm lensPortfolio: roneracine.com

Bathing beauty


56/100



“It was late winter and all the vegetation was still golden brown,”

says Ron E. Racine. “With the sun at a low angle, I spoed this

mallard coming in to land. I took a panning shot that kept the

duck’s body sharp but blurred its wings and the background.”

Photographer: Ron E. RacineLocation: Kelowna, B.C.Species: Mallard duckCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 400 mm lensPortfolio: roneracine.com

Frozen motion


58/100



Eagles come to this spot to feed on dead spawned salmon, andthis one could be chasing a seagull away from its meal, but bald

eagles have also been known to hunt other birds. Able to dive over 160 km/h, they prey on smaller, slower birds.

Photographer: David HodgeLocation: Near Harrison Mills, B.C.Species: Bald eagle and Thayer’s gullCamera: Nikon D5100, 18-200 mm lens

The hunted



CONTESTwinner

WILDLIFE

Each morning, Monique Lavoie photographs birds

in her yard. “Aer a fresh snow, this beautiful blue

jay arrived to enjoy the fluffy snow. Its wings made

wonderful sprays and gave me exactly what I was

looking for: an unforgeable image.”

Photographer: Monique LavoieLocation: Chelsea, Que.Species: Blue jayCamera: Nikon D7000, 18-200 mm lens

Snow job

“Snow buntings look gentle in flight,” says Bill

McMullen. “They can even resemble a snow-

storm when they take off together. But then

they can also be very aggressive with each

other.” This pair was baling it out to establish

the pecking order.

Photographer: Bill McMullenLocation: Navan, Ont.Species: Snow buntingsCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 400 mm lensPortfolio: billmcmullenphotography.com

Fight or flight



Great blue herons thrive in marshy, shallow waters, so it’s no surprise

that they’ve benefied from the rebound of beaver populations.

Yet Linda Stacey didn’t spot this one at a beaver pond, but at

a dyke created by nature’s other dam builder: humans.

Photographer: Linda StaceyLocation: Coquitlam, B.C.Species: Great blue heronCamera: Canon EOS 60D, 100-400 mm lensPortfolio: lindastacey.see.me

Queen of the dammed



Thayer’s gulls summer in the High Arctic, but winter draws them to

milder spots along the Pacific Coast, like Vancouver’s Granville

Island. “When you live in a port city, you share it with other urban

dwellers, including gulls,” says Ivan Petrov.

Photographer: Ivan PetrovLocation: VancouverSpecies: Thayer’s gullCamera: Nikon D300s, 18-200 mm lensPortfolio: ivanpetrov23.see.me

Flapper style


65/100



The painted lady may be Earth’s best-travelled but-

terfly. It lives on every continent except Antarcticaand South America, and has been known to venture

as far north as Nunavut and the Yukon. Natally Klaric

photographed this one in her Montreal-area garden.

In Canada, water covers an area roughly the size

France and England combined. All those lakes anmarshes are prime habitat for iridescent damselfl

These predatory insects hunt smaller flies along t

edges of shallow freshwater.

Photographer: Natally KlaricLocation: Beaconsfield, Que.Species: Painted lady buerflyCamera: Nikon D700, 105 mm lensPortfolio: flickr.com/photos/affi nity5

Photographer: Marie-Pier CoutureLocation: Near Quebec CitySpecies: DamselflyCamera: Canon EOS Rebel XSi, 100 mm lensPortfolio: mariepier-couture.com

Splash of colour Damsel at rest



The colouring of the painted lady buerfly makes

like the more famous monarch, but painted ladies

much smaller, measuring only five to six centimetrin diameter. “This one looked lovely, as though it w

cradled in the leaf,” says Debbie Oppermann.

Photographer: Debbie OppermannLocation: Guelph, Ont.Species: Painted lady buerflyCamera: Canon 60D, 100 mm lens

Cradled away


69/100BEST WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 2014 WHAT’S IN THE WATER68

WHAT’S IN THE


70/100



CONTESTrunner-up

WILDLIFE

Moose love water, but not when it’s icebound.

“We grabbed all the rope we had and ran down

to the lakeshore,” says Chris Gale. “My buddy

lassoed her, and about 10 of us helped pull her

up. Then she walked away, looking back at us

as if to say thanks.”

Photographer: Chris GaleLocation: Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, B.C.Species: MooseCamera: Nikon D7000, 24-70 mm lensPortfolio: wildnorthphotos.com

Rescue me


72/100


73/100



“Every four years the spawning cycle of sockeye salmon peaks,”

says Todd Mintz. “They fight the current for 500 kilometres

upriver to return to their birth place, changing a vibrant red to

encourage mating, then dying soon aer.” This time, more than

34 million salmon ran in the Fraser River system.

Photographer: Todd MintzLocation: Adams River, B.C.Species: Sockeye salmonCamera: Canon EOS 50D with underwater housing, 10-17 mm lensPortfolio: tmintz.ca

Swimming upstream



CONTESThonourable

mention

WILDLIFE“I’ve been photographing these loons for years, and

they’ve grown very tolerant of my canoe,” says Steven

Rose. “Two years ago, they even swam up to the boat,

le a day-old chick beside it, and swam off to feed for

40 minutes before returning to pick it up.”

Photographer: Steven RoseLocation: Havelock, Ont.Species: Common loonCamera: Canon Mark IV, 500 mm lensPortfolio: stevenrosephotography.com

The babysiers club



Even if you live by a lake, you rarely see adult loons

catch their prey. They hunt and consume most during

their dives. Unlike their parents, loon chicks feed

above the waterline, creating photo ops for aentive

photographers like Peter Ferguson.

Photographer: Peter FergusonLocation: Algonquin Provincial Park, Ont.Species: Common loonCamera: Panasonic FZ150

Mystery dinner


77/100


78/100



The Kermode bears that Kyle Blaney set out to

photograph proved to be only the opening act of his

jaunt along the B.C. coast. “We weren’t even looking

for whales, but noticed this one in the distance.

It breached over and over again.”

Photographer: Kyle BlaneyLocation: Hartley Bay, B.C.Species: Humpback WhaleCamera: Canon EOS 7D, 28-300 mm lensPortfolio: kblaney.com

The main event


81/100



“This is muddy terrain along an ATV trail, but thereare a lot of frogs at close range,” says Steeve Marcoux.

“I look for the position that has the potential for the

most interesting compositions, then lay on the ground

and slowly close in on the frog.”

Photographer: Steeve MarcouxLocation: Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.Species: Green frogCamera: Pentax K-01, 100 mm macro lensWebsite: smarcoux.zenfolio.com

Closing in


84/100


85/100


86/100


87/100


90/100


91/100


92/100


93/100BEST WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 2014 JUNIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS92

JUNIOR PHOTOG



The legendary French phoographerHenri Carier-Bresson famously saidha your firs 10,000 phoographsare your wors, and if he was righ,

oday’s youh have a leg up on anygeneraion ha came before. Noonly are cameras ubiquious, buyoung people are learning how ouse hem, and use hem well.

APHERS

he legendleHenri Cari lri lha your fiyare your woyo

oda s ou la l

Jenaya Launsein se ou o phoograph elk, bu

couldn’ ge close enough o ge her sho. Then she

spoted his coyoe, and made he bes of i. “His fur

was we, and he didn’ look happy abou i. I managed

o ge a few shos before he coninued along.”

Photographer: Jenaya LaunsteinLocation: Waterton Lakes National Park, Alta.Species: CoyoteCamera: Nikon D300, 200-400 mm lensPortfolio: launsteinimagery.com

Rainy day blues

CONTESThonourable

mention

JUNIORPHOTOGRAPHERS


95/100


97/100


98/100


99/100


100/100

Download - Canadian Geographic - Best Wildlife Photography 2014

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