Anyone who has ever seen a wolf, whether in print or in person, can attest to their beauty. This is what draws so many photographers to try and capture wolf pictures. There truly is something majestic about these canines that pulls so many people to them. Countless stories, fables, and myths have depicted these animals to be courageous and fearsome creatures. While their real-life counterparts aren’t magical creatures in a literal sense, those who have interacted with them may say otherwise.
Wolves in Art
Wolves have been depicted in art for centuries. One of the most prominent examples of wolves in human culture is the famous bronze Capitoline Wolf statue. The she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus are considered to be a depiction of the ancient legend of the founding of Rome. This wolf is one of the first sculptures to appear in ancient Rome, likely dating back to between the years 1021 and 1153 B.C. Fast forward to the 1940s, and the same wolf caught the interest of famed abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock. Like many of his peers, Pollock explored mythological animals and ancient themes, which included the elusive wolf. Even today, many decades later, even the top interior designers of the world employ pictures of wolves to enrich spaces.
Despite the sheer beauty of these animals, they are incredibly difficult to photograph. The rarity of wolf pictures certainly does add to their exclusivity and value. When you take into consideration all that goes into photographing wildlife, the added coyness of wolves understandably adds to the difficulty. Not many animals are more elusive than the wolf. This makes it very difficult to spot them and photograph them. They also tend to have vast territories that they use to hunt prey. The arctic wolf is a subspecies of the grey wolf, that has territories from Canada’s Queen Elizabeth Islands to from Melville Island to Ellesmere Island.
Tracking the Movements of Wolves
Furthermore, these carnivores follow their prey, muskoxen, as they migrate. However, the movements of the Arctic wolf are very mysterious as not much research has been done on them. The climate that these wolves live in also adds to this difficulty and makes it much harder to follow their movements. Researchers have been able to determine that these wolves migrate only during the wintertime. During this season, their habitat is cloaked in pitch darkness for 24 hours a day. Naturally, this means that it is extremely difficult to research the movements of Arctic wolves. A wolf movement study was conducted during the wintertime, which meant it was done in complete darkness.
The study covered an area 1,400 miles south of the High Arctic and subjected the researchers to temperatures as low as −63 °F. These researchers were forced to endure these impossible conditions for data on wolf migration. Understandably, these conditions provide a different set of challenges for those trying to capture wolf pictures.
The Habits of the Wolves
The natural habits of wolves also add to their elusiveness when it comes to photographing them. Wolves often hunt their prey at night, which once again, makes it typically difficult to track them when they are active. Wolves can also be very cautious around humans, and for good reason. Arctic wolves have been known to be cautious but then often follow humans in their habitats as they never encounter them enough to fear them.
Shrinking Numbers Leads to Elusiveness
The overall numbers of these animals have also been cut down due to human advancements. Deliberate interference from humans has reduced these animals’ habitat to about a third of what it was originally. Most of this comes from fear of wolves preying on livestock and attacking humans, which are actually quite rare instances. Much deforestation takes place to make room for cattle farming. This encroaches onto the natural woodland habitat of the wolves, pushing their territories to be smaller and smaller. The less territory they have to roam, the harder it is for them to stalk and hunt their normal prey.
Naturally, this then pushes packs to prey on the new animals that inhabit the land that was once theirs. Humans have, unsurprisingly, not taken to this well, and will regularly hunt down wolves to protect their own herds. This tension between humans and wolves has been escalating as more land is converted into farms and the deer are replaced with cows.
Wolves being pushed out from their homes deep within the woods has also put them in the sight of poaching. The many years of hunting have mostly wiped these carnivores out of most of Western Europe, in Mexico and the United States. Today, wolves are confined to just a few remote parts of Canada, Alaska and the northern United States, Europe, and Asia. In fact, it is estimated there are only about 4,000 wolves in Alberta and about 8,000 wolves in British Columbia.
The Challenges of Photographing Wolves
The quest for wolf pictures can be a challenge for any wildlife photographer. Even the most seasoned veteran photographer can attest to the difficulty of capturing pictures of wolves. This adventure of a lifetime can take a lot of planning, time, and simply the favor of Lady Luck herself. Additionally, a well-trained guide can do wonders to make this endeavor easier and faster. After all, having someone who knows the habits and patterns of the animals and the land can help locate them faster than trial and error.
Many times, interactions with wolves will be short and fleeting. The elusive carnivore usually only shows itself briefly before it melts back into the camouflage of its habitat. Spotting wolves in woody regions can be very difficult. They have mastered the art of camouflage through many years of evolution. Their adapted coat allows them to blend exceptionally well into their surroundings, whether it’s snow or woodlands. So well, that if they stay perfectly still they are almost impossible to spot by the untrained eye. This is where experience, a well-trained guide, and luck can make all the difference.
Therefore as a photographer, it is up to you to make the most of those few brief moments of opportunity. They will likely be few and far in between, so it is important to be alert and ready to act. However, even these short encounters can be very satisfying and produce excellent wolf pictures.
Photographing in the Arctic
Typically, any wildlife photographer can venture out to photograph wolves in winter. This is because you can actually see the tracks of the wolves in the snow, making it easier to follow them. However, photographing in the arctic presents its own challenges. Namely, this is the lack of cover to hide oneself behind and the bitter cold. Most photographers can get relatively close to these animals or simply watch them through binoculars. Unfortunately, not many are able to get too close at all, especially without the added camouflage of a cover. The added cold, which can reach to be -56 °F, makes it difficult for anyone to endure waiting for these timid creatures to show.
Exclusive Wolf Pictures
Despite these challenges, I have been able to capture some truly exclusive pictures of wolves in their natural habitats. What makes our images stand out from others is that only one other photographer aside from myself has been able to get within seven feet of an arctic wolf. There is a particular intimacy of being able to get so close and capturing details that otherwise go unnoticed. This itself is a testament to just how difficult it is to photograph these elusive creatures.
Being able to photograph the arctic wolves in my gallery was a once in a lifetime experience. I would recommend that everyone try to experience the rush of the wildness. Understandably, not everyone is able or willing to subject themselves to the extreme conditions that many animals inhabit so easily. So while you may not be able to lock eyes with an Alpha wolf on the tundra, you can still bring the majesty of the creature to your own home. These unique images freeze these animals in time. The majestic wolf’s steely gaze can be yours to display in your home or office. From the comfort of an online art gallery, you can freely browse my vast documentation of this encounter. Whether you’re a top interior designer, a budding wildlife photographer, or just a wildlife enthusiast, these photographs are for you.
Wolf Pictures for Your Home
These wolf pictures can be printed in many sizes, ranging from small 8” X 12” to life-size 43.5” X 65.25” on Kodak metallic photo paper. You also have your choice of the finish, either unframed, wooden framed, or mounted on plexiglass. The artwork is also proudly printed and framed in New York.
Above all, we’re happy to share these stories and offer these exclusive wolf pictures. In addition to the other pieces in our contemporary art gallery, these prints make wonderful additions to any home. Displayed on acrylic plexiglass during our fine art exhibits, the photographs truly do come to life.
Giving back and Conservation
Since it’s so difficult to photograph these majestic animals, Nikon USA asked me to do an interview with them, you can READ THE INTERVIEW. I am so grateful to the wolf and the only way for me to pay them back is to donate a portion of all wolf image sales to CONSERVATIONS that help protect them.
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