Interview by Bill Locke
(Click on photos to enlarge)
Gary Groeneveld
Every once in a while you discover someone hidden in your neighborhood with amazing gifts – and who has been quietly using them for years to bring beauty into the world. Gary Groeneveld is one of those people.
We happened upon him last summer, displaying his photographs on his lawn, putting his work out there for anyone who was walking by to enjoy. And enjoy we did! Not only were my wife and I hugely impressed by his wildlife photos, but we also loved hearing Gary’s stories about his adventures out in nature.
I recently was able to sit down and “virtually” chat a bit more with Gary about his passion for using his camera to capture rare moments with so many beautiful creatures. We’re happy to be able to share our conversation here with you, and also share some of his wonderful photos.
Kolbe Times: How did you get into wildlife photography?
Gary Groeneveld: I had taught photography for decades, loved cameras and had a lot of technical skills but then around 1995, something happened by accident. I was driving in the mountains near the Highwood Pass area and I spotted my first grizzly. It was really exciting. He just popped out on the side of the road. I had my camera with me, so I snapped some pictures. Later, I saw him with his mate crossing the Kananaskis Highway. And that’s when I knew I had to record these special moments.
I started learning more about this type of photography, buying special lenses and dragging my family on trips and hiking in the mountains near Calgary. Other times I went on adventures in the wild on my own with my camera to discover all kinds of landscapes, wildlife and environmental corridors in which the animals roamed.
You can hike for years without realizing these animals are around you. You have to learn to see them, to observe how wildlife adapt and survive in their natural surroundings, and have the patience to wait in the woods for hours for them to appear. Gradually, I learned how to look for footprints. I started to really observe the animals, seeing how far I could go with them without interfering. People often did not believe some of the wildlife I encountered, but I had the pictures to prove it.
Kolbe Times: How do you capture such special moments in your photography?
Gary Groeneveld: First I had to relearn photography. You can’t blindly just take pictures and hope it’s going to turn out the way you want. The way I get really good pictures is by anticipating the action. I have to take the picture before it happens, start panning and keep taking a series of photos quickly.
Next, as I mentioned, you have to learn how to really observe, and you can’t be in a rush. Certain photographs that I pictured in my head required waiting years to get the perfect shot. I pay very close attention to the lighting. And I try to match the creature with their landscape. Some animals, for instance, only come out very early in the morning, or live near the top of a mountain and have to be photographed with a telephoto lens.
Kolbe Times: What is it about wildlife photos that seems to touch people, and bring them such joy?
Gary Groeneveld: I think good wildlife photography conveys certain emotions like joy, fear or serenity. Some people have said that my photos capture the soul of the animal, with both the wildness and the tranquility of nature. I’ve noticed that at our workplaces or our offices – and other places that might sometimes be stressful – we want to have a photograph, like a forest picture, to evoke a positive emotion we’ve felt or to remind us of a favourite childhood experience.
I hope my wildlife photos give people a chance to experience the beauty and strength of animals that are hard to find or dangerous to see close up. I think it gives them a sense of awe, a sense of wonder…and certain photos can bring a real sense of peace.
All images courtesy of Gary Groeneveld.
Gary may be contacted at garygroeneveld@gmail.com
To see more of Gary’s photography, visit his website .
