Canadian nature photographer Seth Macey shares his top 5 most memorable moments
There's a lot to see in the Canadian wilderness. Here are five standout moments.
Over the years, Canadian wildlife and nature photographer Seth Macey has been privy to breathtaking views - from towering mountains in Banff, Alberta, to the serenity of Ontario's Algonquin Park.
And in these landscapes, armed with a camera and a lot of patience, he's photographed numerous animals.
Seth recently spoke with The Weather Network about his adventures.
Here are his top five most memorable moments.
5. Wolves in Banff National Park
"I think wolves are misunderstood," he says.
"They're quite timid. They've been hunted by humans for thousands of years, and [their depictions in] movies and pop culture haven't done them any favours. They're quite gentle and they're really beautiful to watch."
"The fact that I saw two of them was an experience I'll never forget."
4. Moose cow and calf in Jasper National Park
"I had just finished a cruise to Spirit Island in Jasper National Park. When we came back, there was a moose cow and her calf drinking in the lake."
"She kept bringing her head above the water and she was dripping water everywhere. So those water droplets are frozen in frame."
"Every time she dumped her head underwater, her ears were above so that she could hear where her calf was. So it was a heartwarming tale of giving the young one space to be independent but also being nearby in case anything happened."
3. Ruby-throated hummingbirds
"Not much to say here other than ruby-throated hummingbirds are amazing to watch. They have the highest metabolic rate of any animal on earth."
"Their wings beat so fast that most cameras can't even catch it at the highest shutter speed. One of my favorite photographs is of one flying early morning with a sunrise backdrop."
2. River otters on a frozen lake
"I spent three months tracking the otters on snowshoes and following their prints when I finally started to accept that it might not happen."
"That's when it happened. So it was a nice story for me, in terms of perseverance."
1. Loon parents with three chicks
"Number one would be loon parents with three chicks. That's something I had never seen before."
Loons normally lay two eggs - meaning if the family Seth captured had laid three, he had happened upon a statictic anomlay. The other possibility is the third loon was orphaned and taken in by the parents.
Seth says judging by the size difference among the loons, that was probably what happened.
"For a chick to be taken in by two other loon parents was one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen in my wildlife photography career."
Seth is an advocate for ethical wildlife photography, using the Photographer Mindset Podcast he co-founded to speak about enjoying nature and taking creative shot while minimizing the impact on animals.
Quotes have been edited for grammar/flow. All photos courtesy of Seth Macey.
