2021 was a slow year for me, in terms of photography anyways. Life has a way of humbling you at times. In the spare time that I did have, I focused more of my creative efforts on camera trapping and producing content for an upcoming eBook I am soon to be releasing on the subject: “The Ultimate Guide to DSLR Camera Trapping”.

In between my camera trapping pursuits, I was able to get out a few times and make some landscape images that I was pleased with. Here are 10 of my personal favorites from this past year, complete with the stories behind the images, in the order they were taken:

**“LION’S LAIR” |** **Purchase Print**
A naturalist at heart, I've always been intrigued by wild animals. The ability to not only adapt, but to survive in nature is truly remarkable. As far back as I can remember, one of my favorite past times has been tracking animals. Truth be told, it was tracking that led me down this path of pursuing a career in nature photography.
As a young boy I used to set off alone into the woods near my home in the Adirondack Mountains of rural upstate New York with a notebook, rulers, and some plaster of paris in my backpack. The plaster was for casting and preserving the footprints, while the other “tools” were used to document the footprints of the critters roaming the forest. Through the gathering of this data, I knew just about every individual animal in the neighborhood. Eventually I began bringing a camera along with me to take photographs of the tracks, and thus a passion was born.
I am a firm believer that being a good naturalist certainly contributes to my success as a nature photographer. Being "in-tune" with the animals, knowing how they behave, how they use the landscape, puts me on the right track in terms of capturing them on camera. When I use the term “tracking”, I don't just mean casually following footprints across a snowy landscape. Tracking is an art. Being able to 'read' the sign and clues left behind can tell you a lot about the particular animal that you are tracking. Which gait was it using? Was it stalking or chasing prey? Which direction was it looking? What has the animal been eating? These are just a few of the things that tracks and sign can tell us. Being a good tracker means being able to track animals through any terrain, no matter the season. Of course, the white stuff helps! Winter can be a great time to get out and see what has been moving around in your neck of the woods.
By now, you may be wondering how I captured this compelling image of a mountain lion under the cover of darkness. In January of 2021 I back tracked a cat to a large natural shelter underneath a massive old growth tree that had fallen. Based on the tracks and the density of prey in the area, my instincts told me that the lion was likely using this cavity for shelter, and perhaps even a potential place of ambush.
I returned to the area shortly thereafter and set up a specialized camera trap that I built. A “camera trap” is a remote camera that can be set up and left in the wild for long periods of time. The system uses an infrared sensor to detect motion and heat. When something is detected by the sensor, an animal for example, the sensor sends a signal to the camera to take a picture. This setup uses multiple off-camera flashes for lighting, which is essential for capturing images at night. Things such as camera exposure, focus, and the intensity of the lights are all set in advance.
Once I had everything all carefully set up, all I had to do now was wait. When I returned to check on the camera nearly a month later, I immediately noticed a set of cat tracks leading up to the cavity. Opening up the camera box and finding this image on the camera’s memory card certainly made my day! Checking the date on the photograph I realized that this lion returned just a couple of weeks after I had set up the camera. The stealthy visitor tripped my sensor as it entered the cavity, and this image was made.

**“LYNX HOLLOW” |** **Purchase Print**
Later in the winter, I set my sights on Canada Lynx. Lynx are extremely rare in Montana, so the thought of capturing one with a camera was a lofty goal. After tracking these carnivores for several years in Montana, I did have some knowledge of where to begin my search. I've been eyeing this old burned-out tree for the past few years now as a potential place for a camera trap. The way it which it burned left a perfect natural shelter for a small animal such as a lynx. I finally set up a trail camera to monitor any potential wildlife activity at the tree. After a few months I returned to check the camera and was surprised to find that several different lynxes had visited the hollowed-out tree. The cats were even scent marking it, even better! Soon after I returned on skis to set up a DSLR camera trap.

The shot that I had envisioned was a bird’s eye view, with a cat curled up sleeping at the base of the tree. The camera set up was not easy to pull off. Because of the position the camera had to be in, I could not see the composition. I had to put the camera in the case and set a timer to take an exposure, and then pull out the camera and review the image each time. I did this multiple times to get the composition I wanted. I had to do this all over again once I placed the speedlights, to check to see if my lights were set properly. The charred wood inside the tree was extremely dark, and getting my lights to fill the shadows, without causing even more shadows, was tricky to say the least!

The snow was hard and crusty when I returned to check the camera, and I did not observe any tracks around the tree. I reviewed the images on the camera and, to my surprise, found this one! While I did not get the cat curled up at the base of the tree, I was very pleased that I got at least one frame with the lynx looking up at the camera. After this shot was taken the animal entered the cavity at the bottom, stopping briefly to scent mark it before exiting.

**“LYNX COUNTRY” |** Purchase Print
Lynx remained on my mind throughout the rest of winter. This was without a doubt one of my most ambitious camera trap setups to date. It was made possible thanks to a collaboration with the Southwestern Crown of the Continent Collaborative Rare Carnivore Monitoring Project.

After snowmobiling high into the mountains, I choose this location for the outstanding view it yielded. The brutal temperatures of winter are extremely tough on gear, so I made multiple treks in on skis in the weeks following, in order to maintain the camera trap and replace exhausted batteries. Over the course of several weeks my camera sat silent, patiently waiting for the moment when a rare carnivore would pass in front and trip the shutter.

**“THE OLD LARCH” |** **Purchase Print**
Later in May, while exploring a western Montana forest, I came across a tree riddled with bear claw marks. The tree, a massive old-growth western larch, was a great find for a camera trapper like me. I gathered my gear and returned to set up a camera trap. It wasn't long before the bears began passing through, mostly late-morning and early afternoon. Not ideal times for photography. Lighting such a large scene is always difficult, and I spent many weeks dialing in the right settings to make it look as natural as possible. The amount of bear activity that I was getting at the tree allowed me to dial in my settings until I got it just right. Achieving natural-looking light from an artificial light source has to be one of the most challenging aspects of camera trapping.

After several weeks I was finally able to capture a worthy image when this young black bear showed up right before dusk, briefly posing in front of the larch. I love how the bear provided the image with a sense of scale here, really highlighting just how big that old giant is!

**“REMEMBER TOMORROW” |** **Purchase Print**
I spent the majority of the spring and summer setting and maintaining camera traps. I put down my camera for several months, and simply enjoyed spending time in nature. Following this lull in photography, my wife and I made a trip to Grand Teton National Park in early September to meet up with some friends from back east. One morning we got up early and drove out to Jenny Lake for sunrise. It was a rare, but beautiful morning. I could not resist picking up the camera and capturing some images of the mountains perfectly reflected in the glassy surface of the lake. The lone leaf signaled the coming of fall.

**“HEAVENS VALLEY” |** **Purchase Print**
After canceling some travel plans in October, we instead made a last-minute trip to Glacier National Park to catch the autumn color in the mountains. I have been trying to capture an image like this for several years but have always struck out on the light. Finally in late September, the weather and the light cooperated. Following a day of heavy rains, the waterfalls were flowing in the mountains again. Perched on the edge of a cliff, I waited until the sun dipped below the distant mountains before clicking the shutter and capturing this scene. To me, it encompasses everything that is Glacier: rugged peaks, waterfalls, and expansive valleys.

**“EVER AFTER” |** **Purchase Print**
I made this somber yet peaceful image very close to my home in Montana. As I sat there on the shore that morning, a heavy fog enveloped the lake. I wasn’t expecting to make a single photograph that day, but rather was simply enjoying the sounds and smells of nature. At one point a bald eagle swooped down out of nowhere and caught a large trout less than 30 yards from where I was sitting. I sat there for well over an hour just taking it all in. No distractions, just the occasional fish jumping, or the sound of ducks flying overhead. Then it happened. The fog began to lift ever so slightly, revealing a small glimpse of the mountains looming above the lake. I took advantage of this window of opportunity to compose this image.

**“MIDNIGHT SYMPHONY” |** **Purchase Print**
In early November a massive cloud of plasma from the sun’s corona hit earth’s magnetic field, sparking a strong geomagnetic storm. I was fortunate in that I follow space weather and therefore knew of the potential for strong auroras here in Montana. With some advanced planning and studying of cloud coverage charts, I knew just where to be when the opportunity presented itself. I talked my wife into going out with me, in hopes of witnessing this natural wonder. Our husky, Mya, joined us as well.
Upon arriving at our first location, we could see a faint green glow on the distant horizon. We waited for a couple of hours, but the lights were not getting any stronger. In the darkness I stepped away from my camera briefly to set up a flash so that I could try to capture a photograph of Mya with the Northern Lights. I turned around just in time to see my tripod begin to tip over. I tried to save it but wasn’t quick enough and my camera took a faceplant into the rocks. After realizing my lens was badly scratched, I tried to make the best of the night, despite an overwhelming feeling of negligence on my part.
Sitting there at the edge of the lake, in the dark, was an eerie feeling. Every little sound was amplified. Was it a bear? Probably not, but the thought was definitely on my mind. The lights continued to be muted, so I made a call to pack up and leave. Just as we were about to head for home, something told me to continue on to the next location that I had planned out in advance.
It was shortly after midnight when we arrived at the second lake. I grabbed my camera and tripod and walked down to the lake with Mya. My wife decided to stay in the warm vehicle this time and catch up on some ZZZ’s. Shortly after we got to the lake, I began to notice the intensity of the lights was increasing. It wasn’t long and the lights were pulsating and dancing throughout the night sky. The landscape began to take on an intense green glow, and you could actually make out different colors in the aurora with the naked eye! I quickly walked up to wake my wife up so that she could witness the beauty for herself.
To our surprise, the auroras continued to be active for quite some time. During this time, I was able to make several unique images including this one. It was definitely a costly night to be out (because of the lens damage), but I was certainly thrilled that we were able to witness such an incredible light show together. One of the best displays I’ve ever been fortunate enough to see in nature!

**“NIGHT OF WONDER” |** **Purchase Print**
This image was made on the same night as the previous one. After the lights began to die down, we decided to call it a night and headed home. My wife quickly retreated to bed, but I could not sleep. I sat in our loft and watched out the window for the lights to make a return appearance. I poured over real-time space weather data in hopes that the conditions would once again become favorable. Then I began to see some activity from my window looking north. I quickly grabbed my gear and headed out yet again. This time I headed over to another lake closer to home.
When I arrived at the lake the lights had again quieted down. The reason for this was that the current space weather conditions seemed to be waning and were therefore less conducive to strong auroras. Despite this I decided to wait it out. Space weather is highly unpredictable, and conditions can change in the blink of an eye. I set my camera up for a panoramic composition and waited. Finally, it happened. The lights were once again dancing in the sky above, beautifully mirrored by the lake below. It was a magical sight to behold, and one that lasted well into the early morning hours. In fact, the aurora was so strong that I could still make it out, even in the predawn skies, less than a half hour before sunrise!

**“UP ON THE RIDGE” |** **Purchase Print**
The last image came later in November, and was perhaps the longest in the making, taking seven months to capture.
As a young boy one of my hobbies, besides tracking, was to build very primitive trail cameras to document the animals in my local woods. As my career in photography has progressed, it has been rewarding to go back to my camera trapping roots.

Several years ago, I began constructing my own camera traps, using DSLR cameras to capture high quality imagery. Besides the ability to capture wildlife in their natural environment, with very minimal impact on the animals themselves, I very much enjoy the creative process behind it. In camera trapping you are only limited by your own imagination. The photographer is able to control the entire process. Everything from the composition to the lighting, and to some extent, even where the animal is captured within the frame!

Checking on and maintaining my cameras gets me back into nature, which to me is just an added bonus. Equally exciting is when I check a camera and find that it captured exactly what I was expecting. This does not happen nearly as often as one might think, which makes it even more rewarding when everything does come together just as I envisioned.
In 2021, I dedicated a lot of time attempting to camera trap mountain lions in a very specific location that I found during the spring. Over the course of seven months, I came extremely close several times, and even had them walk directly past the camera on two separate occasions. Unfortunately, both times the batteries in my setup had already died!

I thought of pulling the set multiple times, because it literally had not produced a single image (of anything!) since April. Then, on the day I would go hike up there to pull it, I would end up finding some promising sign and decide to leave it just a little bit longer in hopes that a cat would pass through. Well, it turned out that my instincts were on point, and because of this I was finally rewarded with a couple of awesome images of these elusive big cats. Not only did my persistence and patience finally pay off, but the cat passed by right before sunset. The orange glow in the sky was an added bonus for sure.

In camera trapping it's not very often that all of the elements line up perfectly like this. Half of the battle in camera trapping is finding compelling compositions in areas where the animals are also present and active. This area was not only perfect for that, but at the same time the topography created a natural pinch point. The small group of gnarled junipers, with their snake-like branches and root systems, provided me with the opportunity to get creative with the composition here. There are a few claw marks a few feet up on the old juniper tree here on the right, most likely made from a lion.

Want to get started in DSLR camera trapping but have no idea where to start? Perhaps you're already into camera trapping but you want to hone your skills and learn from a professional in the field? My upcoming eBook, "The Ultimate Guide to DSLR Camera Trapping", will provide you with the knowledge and know-how to get started in this niche field of wildlife photography, as well as teach you everything you need to know so that you can start capturing images just like this! In my eBook I reveal the methods and the secrets behind the craft, and how I apply them in the field in order to capture unique one-of-a-kind imagery! Sign up to my Newsletter to be one of the first to know when the eBook is released!
Happy New Year everyone!!
-Zack

Mar 27, 2023

Revealing the Secret Lives of Wild Animals through Remote Camera Trap Photography

Whenever I am photographing wild animals, I am always trying to capture them in a unique and inspiring way. Traditionally, most wildlife photography is done using long telephoto lenses, whereas DSLR camera trap photography uses wide-angle lenses capable of depicting more of the environment where these creatures thrive. Besides telling a story, these images are great at…