Photographing Wildlife in the Canadian Rockies

Steven Behal is a Toronto-based photographer.

This guide is for the adventurous wildlife shooter. Designed for the
amateur or intermediate photographer, it is an easy-to-use tool that can
be kept in a gadget bag when stalking prey. Made from a heavy paper, it
won’t be ruined should the photographer inadvertently dump the canoe
or drop the book down a cliff while giving chase.

The book tells how the Schmidts prepare themselves for their work, what
equipment and films they use, and how they approach a wide variety of
game. As professionals, they relate the approaches they have found
successful but acknowledge that their choices may not be everyone’s:
with experience, each photographer must decide for himself or herself
what works best. A few essentials that may save the photographer’s
life should be appreciated: never cut off an animal’s escape route,
never approach a predator’s kill, and never feed the wildlife are all
common-sense practices often ignored.

The Schmidts direct you to the geographic location for the game you
wish to photograph, as well as individually listing species. Specific
details on mammals, birds, flowers, and insects are really the main
thrust of the book: black bears, grizzly bears, martens, fishers,
wolverines, and many others are discussed, with information provided on
their eating habits and territory, how to get close enough to get the
shot, and how to get out alive. (It is suggested that some animals be
photographed from a vehicle.) All treatments include specifics on where
and how to get the best shots, as well as samples of the
photographers’ work.

This handy book, with its beautiful and beautifully reproduced
photographs, encourages readers to take their best shots in the wild and
to treat the wilderness with respect and appreciation.