I’m An Animal Photographer, And Here Are My 10 Best Shots Of Polar Bears

I understand the difficulty of capturing wildlife and believe it deserves appreciation. However, is photographing animals in zoos considered a lesser act?

The trigger for me to start photographing was not initially animal photography, but rather landscape photography. I didn’t have much interest in animal photography at all. I live in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, where there is Maruyama Zoo. In the 2010s, the facilities of Maruyama Zoo were renewed, allowing visitors to see and observe animals in environments closer to their natural habitats. Upon hearing this news, I casually visited the zoo.

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Hello!

In The Light

Diving

Additionally, there was advice from Mr. Kent Shiraishi, who is both my photography mentor and friend. From then on, I started frequenting the zoo regularly, focusing on photographing polar bears and expanding to other animals as well. This marked the beginning of my serious involvement in animal portrait photography with the zoo as the backdrop.Initially, I was shooting without much prior knowledge, just vaguely. However, I found it challenging to achieve the desired results in that manner. So, I started to study the behavior of animals in advance and made efforts to understand their personalities and behavioral patterns through careful observation. Each animal has its own personality, after all. I believe that observation is as important as photography itself.

Initially, I was shooting without much prior knowledge, just vaguely. However, I found it challenging to achieve the desired results in that manner. So, I started to study the behavior of animals in advance and made efforts to understand their personalities and behavioral patterns through careful observation. Each animal has its own personality, after all. I believe that observation is as important as photography itself.

Parent-Child Play

Pray

Being in a confined environment makes observation easier. Of course, there are times when I retreat to the back of a building while observing, and that concludes the day’s photography. I think that prior knowledge about animals and observation are essential factors for getting closer to the essence.

If they were in the wild, meeting animals itself would be difficult, let alone being able to observe them as desired.

When photographing at the zoo, my challenge is to always be considerate of other visitors and avoid causing inconvenience. The zoo is not a space solely allocated to me, nor is it a priority for photographers. I am mindful not to ignore other visitors and occupy space for photography, causing disturbance. The main focus should be on the animals for the visitors at the zoo, not on photographers. I strive to photograph the animals without causing them stress as much as possible.

Swimming

Oh My God!

In Japan, when it comes to animal photography, “wildlife photography” is predominant. Of course, I recognize that there are amazing photos that can only be captured in the wild, and the effort required for this should be admired. Many people may perceive photography at the zoo as inferior, considering it less challenging or less authentic.

Snowing

Hand

While there are certainly remarkable photographic works taken at zoos, I haven’t seen many that truly stand out. I aspire to be a pioneer and top performer as a zoo photographer. If I’m going to do it, I want to aim to be among the best in the world!Life is short, and there’s no time to stand still. I want to continue sharing my work while enjoying the process. I’m grateful for the opportunity provided to me on this occasion.

Life is short, and there’s no time to stand still. I want to continue sharing my work while enjoying the process. I’m grateful for the opportunity provided to me on this occasion.

Dandy Bear