Doug's Bio and taking Wildlife Photos

I am a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Red Deer, Alberta Canada. The vision and artistry of my photography stem from over 20 years of experience as a fine artist and graphic designer.  I have a passion for the great outdoors, wilderness, wildlife and nature, and it was this passion, that for many years inspired my creativity as a wildlife artist.

My passion for the great outdoors began early in life.   Camping and fishing were a big part of what my family did for recreation through the spring, summer and fall.  My parents were campers and outdoor enthusiasts, and for me and my two sisters, it offered us great opportunities to play and explore.  An Aunt took a special interest in me and my admiration for the wilderness, nature and wild things when I was about five years old.  She was a true woman of the woods and told me many stories of her adventures fishing and hunting in the Canadian Rockies throughout her own childhood.  It was these stories that inspired an early fascination for the natural world and the living things in it.   Me and my aunt were inseparable (except when I was in school) and every weekend was spent out west in Alberta's West Country fishing and camping, rain or shine. 

My aunt taught me survival, pointed out wildlife, how and where certain species lived, what they ate and the different signs of their presence in an area.  She also taught me to fish the creeks and rivers of Western Canada, and that was our excuse to be in the wilderness every weekend.  I learned and enjoyed every moment with my aunt until she passed away when I was 16 years old.

During those influential years I also developed a passion for art and began sketching animals and landscapes.  Every book, binder and scribbler I used in school was covered in pencil sketches of animals or landscapes.   

When I graduated, I enrolled into the Alberta College of Art in Calgary, Alberta to study and pursue a career as a Commercial Artist.

Upon my departure from my Post Secondary education, and due to the recession at the time, I was unable to find work in my field, so I worked in the Gas & Oil industry for over 10 years.  In 1990 I finally began a career as a Fine Artist and Graphic Designer for a company involved in the Golf Course Industry.   Over the years my work and designs were always influenced by nature.  In 1992, I branched out on my own but still sub-contracted work to that employer.  This left me with more opportunities to pursue my desire to paint and dabble in photography, and still support my family doing design work.  A fellow artist of whom I worked with through that time, mentioned his use of photos to accurately depict the animals and scenery in his paintings.  Although I had done this to certain degree myself, I never did it to the degree my co-worker had.   This was the beginning of my new passion for photography and taking wildlife photos.

Photography presented me with a different medium to bring forth my creativity and appreciation for the outdoors.  I used photography as a tool for my art and graphic designs, but now, conserving and preserving wild places and wild things through photography was how I wish to express my vision and creativity moving forward.

Being an avid outdoorsman, hiker and camper, along with a keen understanding of many wildlife species, has aided in my ability to see and photograph nature as it should be.   I strive to photograph my subjects in their natural environments, while also being aware that I'm invading their space and I take special care not to disturb or cause them any stress.  I regard my photos as works of art and although they are of real elements, real subjects and capture real moments in time, the subject, the light and my interpretation of any given composition define them as art.

I currently reside in Red Deer, Alberta Canada with my wife (Doreen), who also has a passion and appreciation for the outdoors, wild animals and nature.  She to has developed an interest in photography and together we hike and travel Western Canada and the United States.