Nature’s Design

It had been a quiet morning on British Columbia’s Blackfish Sound. I hadn’t seen a killer whale in two days, still the meter on my hired boat was running. Sometimes that’s the way it goes with nature photography.

I decided to cut my losses and head to port hoping for better luck in the evening. My guide gunned the motor and as we began to pick up speed I noticed torpedo-like objects zeroing on us off the starboard bow. In seconds, the Pacific White-sided Dolphins closed the gap making a 90 degree turn at the last instant to join with our wake.

One dolphin turned on it’s side and looked me in the eye, and I instinctively reached for my camera and let the shutter fly. The great joy dolphins project when they are engaged in play lifts the spirits. I excitedly changes lenses and loaded film (this was a long time ago) looking for the tight shot, then a wide scene setter. I felt giddy. The day was salvaged.

After the dolphins left us my guide asked a genuine question… does the camera interfere with your enjoyment of the experience? This was unexpected, and I believe I fumbled an answer that didn’t do justice to my passions. In fact, I had never considered there was any other way to experience wildlife. With camera in hand, I’ve always been looking for that which makes me say, wow! If i can record it, share it and make someone else say, WOW, then that’s like hearing an echo up the canyon. The echo becomes a part of the experience.

Photography is a driving force in my existence. I go places to see things that I believe will make great pictures and through this exercise my experiences mount in ways I would have never imagined. I love wildlife and observing the rhythms of nature. There is a yearning to interact, to be a part, in a way that is not invasive. Photography is a means to show others what moves my spirit. And, on a very personal level, a good photo stimulates a multitude of fond memories.

msw