Wildlife Photography Capturing Intimate Moments of Wild Animals
Wildlife Photographer: Suzie Eszterhas
Hosting Monday community nights at Sanctuary Bistro I have felt so lucky to meet so many amazing people. As a woman business owner, I have to say that meeting other women that are breaking the mold for future women is inspiring. Being a leader in a field of men has a double standard that can be daunting. People have expectations for how women work, act, behave, and talk. It can be subtle but it is ever present in most interactions. I have been called a bitch by men when I am direct and to the point, although men are often direct and not coddling. I admire and am inspired by Suzie and her photography. It is a field of men. She has broken the mold and is working to inspire other teen girls to do the same. She is my hero. Her work is incredible, powerful and moving and I am grateful to know her. I was fortunate to be able to interview her and it is captivating. - Jennifer
Inspiration
Ever since I was a small child, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I absolutely loved animals, especially wild ones. I used to tear pages out of Ranger Rick and Nat Geo Kids magazines, and plaster my walls with them. I spent much of my childhood the backyard watching birds and squirrels, photographing them and recording their behavior in a little notebook. I think my parents thought it was a phase that I would grow out of. I used to tell my mom that I was going to live in a tent in Africa, and I wound up doing just that.
Mission, Goals and Accomplishments
I am a wildlife photographer specializing in animal families. So I essentially photograph baby animals for a living. It’s just about the best job you could ever have.
I absolutely adore capturing intimate moments between animals in the wild – whether it is a moment of absolute love between a mother and her offspring, or sheer joy in a moment of siblings playing. Natural behavior is what I always strive to document. This means that the animal cannot be stressed or nervous about my presence, so I always spend a lot of time with my subjects, and work in gentle and patient ways in order to gain their trust.
I’ve been able to produce some of the world’s most in-depth stories about newborns in the wild, including a wild tiger den in India, a cheetah nest in Africa, tiny brown bear cubs in Alaska, and much more. I am very proud of this, but also feel very privileged. I could never have produced this work if the mothers had not accepted my presence and gifted me with such incredible views of their natural lives. These stories have been published in magazines all over the world (TIME, BBC Wildlife, Smithsonian, Nat Geo Kids and more). They are also the subject of my children’s books, of which I currently have 12 titles.
Anecdotes
I spent three year living in a tent in Africa. I’ve hugged a baby whale, swam with sloths, fended off curious grizzly bears, was slapped by an alpha-male chimpanzee, had hyenas chew on the engine of my car, had insects lay eggs in my feet, was chased by a green mamba, and hand-raised and released an orphaned serval kitten in Africa.
Connecting Young Girls to Nature
I am passionate about connecting kids with nature and, more specifically, encouraging young girls to enter the male-dominated field of wildlife photography. This November, I am offering a FREE wildlife photography workshop for teen girls, age 13-18. It is my hope that this free workshop might spark a few young girls to make the dream of being a wildlife photographer into a reality . Making it in this field takes confidence and persistence, which teenage girls don’t always have. When I was a teen, my life took many crazy turns - boys, family instability, etc - and there were a few landmark moments with professional women in various fields that helped to keep me from becoming totally lost and stay the course. Plus, we need more female wildlife photographers out there!
The free workshop is on November 6th, 2016 in Moss Landing, CA. There are 15 spaces available. Email projects@suzieszterhas.com for more info. Applications are due by Oct 15th. Low-income spaces are available (in which we have camera gear and transportation provided).
Community and Compassion
I care deeply about my subjects, and am devastated that many of the species I work with are facing extinction. I work to raise awareness and funds for several conservation groups, including the , the Cheetah Conservation Fund, The , the Sloth Conservation Foundation and the . You can check them out to learn more and to support them.
Tips for living a more Compassionate Lifestyle
Embrace, cherish and protect Mother Nature. And teach your children to do the same.
Get outside. And take your kids outside. I am SO passionate about connecting kids with nature. I honestly believe that children, starting from the age of infancy, need animals and nature. I think anything we can do to present imagery of nature and wildlife to children, whether it is books, magazines, or prints on the walls, will help to foster an interest in conservation. I love working in the children’s market for this exact reason. We need to reach our next generations, almost more than we need to reach adults.
A Present for Sanctuary Blog Readers
I just launched a print shop specializing in baby animal prints for baby nurseries and kids’ rooms. It is my hope that a child growing up around my pictures of our earth’s gorgeous creatures might grow up to be a compassionate, and conservation-minded citizen. www.babyanimalprints.com
Get 20% off your purchase with Promo code: PROMO20, to be used at checkout.
Follow Suzie Ezsterhas
Do you have a local Bay Area small business or non-profit? Contact Jennifer via email to be considered for a future event.