Bold claim: Wildlife photography isn’t merely a hobby—it’s a passport to remote places, a daily lesson in nature, and a proving ground for patience and skill. And this is the part most people miss: the path to great wildlife imagery is as much about mindset as it is about gear.
Wildlife photography sits among the most popular genres for good reason. It can drive you to new destinations, push you outdoors, help you disconnect from human noise, and continuously teach you something fresh from the animal world. Above all, it remains an enjoyable pursuit.
Yet mastering it isn’t easy. It requires many days of shooting nothing but empty frames, countless attempts that end up in the recycle bin, and the frustration of being so close to a shot you mess up in the moment. Everyone experiences this, even the legends of the craft.
Joshua Holko
I recently spent a couple of weeks with my friend Joshua Holko, traveling through Colombia to chase birds (you can see a detailed report here). Our small group brought together photographers with varying levels of bird knowledge, and the experience was unforgettable. I discovered a surprising fondness for hummingbirds. Our ebird tracker logged 204 bird species in total, though I could name perhaps ten of them with confidence.
Joshua is renowned for his polar expeditions, leading photographers to some of the world’s coldest and most dramatic places—Svalbard, Iceland, Mongolia, the South Georgia Islands, Greenland, and beyond. While Colombia wasn’t snowy, the altitude of 4000 meters kept things brisk.
A few months ago, Josh began filming a short project about photographing wolves in Finland’s Boreal Forest during autumn. It’s a stunning, less-touristy region where beauty comes with effort: you must be willing to work and endure a bit of discomfort to capture what you’re after. The lesson is clear—growth often comes when you’re a little uncomfortable.
Most of the wildlife footage for this project was captured with the Canon EOS R1. White Space Films contributed footage using various Sony cameras. The overall result is striking to my eye.
If you have about ten minutes to lose yourself in Finland’s wild landscape, this film offers a compelling glimpse into what it’s like to work as a wildlife photographer in challenging environments.
Credits: Chris Nemes from White Space Films; Mr. Jan Gear; Wild Nature Photo Travel. See linked sources for more details.
Dive deeper into the discussion if you’d like to hear more about the shoots, the gear choices, and the realities of chasing wildlife on demanding expeditions.
