Into the Unknown with lisa Connor

Hello, and welcome back to the Into the Unknown interview series! Last month, we took a journey into the world of macro photography with Alex McKerracher and discovered the beauty of the tiny universe that surrounds us. This month, we follow Lisa Connor into the wilderness as she unveils the secrets behind photographing with her children and finding the perfect setting for moody bokeh.

Currently residing in Southern Ontario, Lisa Connor is a Manitoba-born wildlife photographer and mother of two. A daughter of the Kanien'kehá:ka nation, Lisa spends as much time as possible capturing the beauty of the outdoors while connecting with her cultural roots. A nature lover with a fondness for avian photography, Lisa uses her work to support conservation efforts through various art auctions. Take a journey with her Into the Unknown and discover how she photographs species like the long-tailed duck.

Photo Credit: Lisa Connor

You’ve mentioned on social media that you often go out with your camera AND your children. How does photographing wildlife with little ones in tow differ from a solo experience, and what does sharing wildlife with your kids mean to you?

Photography can sometimes be challenging and difficult with children in tow, but I can guarantee you that it's not impossible.

My wildlife photography journey began around the same time my eldest son was born. I would take him on walks to local parks with my camera in hopes of photographing some of the local birds. At that time, it was so easy as he was either in the stroller or in a backpack, which allowed me the ability to be hands free to use my camera. Those days were amazing. I got to explore, discover and learn so much about local wildlife, while enjoying the early days of motherhood. My husband and I took our son everywhere along with the camera, teaching him early about the nature and wildlife that surrounds us. Since then, I have had a second son who enjoys being out in nature as much as his older brother.

I have been able to photograph many of my subjects with the kids, with the help of my husband who will quickly distract them if I get a photo opportunity. One thing with the kids is we never stay stationary long enough to wait for the birds to come. It has always been photographing as we go. That is the one major difference as opposed to being solo and having the time to patiently wait for wildlife. The joy of photographing with my kids, and being able to teach them the names, habits, and ethical practices surrounding our photographic adventures, has been fantastic. They are learning each time we go out, which makes it so enjoyable and rewarding for me as a parent. 

I didn't think much of having solo experiences in the earlier days until my oldest son was a little bit older and when he became more mobile. There would be no time to stand and wait for the birds to come by anymore as we would be chasing my boys as they happily ran through the trees. This is when I decided to start trying to go out alone for wildlife photography. I would venture out with my camera to photograph the local birds, only now I was able to focus a bit more on compositions with no distractions. Also, I was able to visit areas that were a little more isolated, giving me the opportunities to lay low and conceal myself for long periods of time, a strategy I couldn't perform with my kids present. These moments alone with nature have been so wonderful, at times I would describe it as meditative.

To be honest though, I felt that sometimes my wildlife experiences were more exciting when my kids were present than if I was alone. To see the enjoyment of my children's faces when they see a bird or animal is just priceless. I have planned many outings where I would go and wait for wildlife, and nothing shows up, leaving me feeling defeated. I have had so many wildlife photography firsts with my family than when I’ve been alone. The whole experience with them has just been incredible.

Much like myself, getting your first telephoto lens changed everything when it came to wildlife photography. What kind of gear are you using now and what is your usual setup when you head out to shoot?

The excitement of purchasing my first telephoto lens was such an amazing feeling. I couldn't wait for the opportunity to adventure out and capture images. Being able to finally get that close reach that you couldn't obtain before was so exciting. To see those fine details of feathers on a bird, or the strands of fur on that first animal was just incredible. My first telephoto lens was the Tamron 150-600mm G1 paired with the Nikon D5300. It was fantastic equipment at the time being a beginner photographer and quite affordable. I started by photographing all birds for practice at some very populated parks where the birds were used to people. Not long after, I became obsessed with capturing the local hawks and waterfowl. A few birthdays later, I received a Nikon D850 and the 200-500mm lens, which is still my set-up of choice today. I never use a tripod and rarely use a monopod. I prefer the freedom of handholding my lens. For low angle images, I just rest my gear on my hand or a pillow for balance.

Photo Credit: Lisa Connor

You have a stunning portfolio of images, with masterful use of bokeh and colour. What makes for the perfect setting when capturing your shots, and how do you go about framing your subjects so eloquently?

The perfect setting I am looking for when capturing images is one where there is soft light and a pleasing background that will give a lovely atmospheric feel of my subjects in their environment. When I venture out to photograph, I usually choose an area that I am familiar with where I know the birds. Once I find a subject, I'll usually start looking around for nice environmental backgrounds that will showcase the habitat in the area that I am exploring and where the subjects live. Light and time of day is always important for capturing images with that dramatic golden light, but I will photograph in all sorts of light. I don't tend to let the weather limit my photo opportunities. I always try to capture my birds or other subjects at eye level to give a feeling of connection. I enjoy the use of foreground blur in my images, if possible, to frame my subject. I use the rule of thirds to compose the subjects and tend to move away from centering them in an image. I will also mention that it is helpful to have a mentor. Someone who will teach, critique you, and provide feedback on your photography.

Let’s delve into a specific photo. Tell me about the experience of capturing a long-tailed duck and what it felt like to get “the shot”?

It was a frigid February day, on the shore of Lake Ontario, back in 2020. I remember it so well as it was one of the first times I was able to venture out to attempt to photograph these beautiful winter waterfowl visitors: the wonderful long-tailed ducks that come to stay on Lake Ontario each winter.

I remember my family pulling up to the shoreline in our truck to see if the ducks were in close range to land. Usually, these ducks prefer to be a bit further out in the lake, away from the shoreline. I hopped out to take a quick look. Luckily the water was like glass, and there was one male quite close to the rocks and he was busy diving for food.

Patiently, I would wait for him to dive underwater, and I would advance closer by keeping myself concealed behind the rocks. Finally, I had an opportunity to quickly position myself on the shore, eyes hidden behind the eye piece of my camera. He surfaces and doesn't notice my presence. He dives a few more times until, unexpectedly, he turns to face my lens head on. Excitedly, I knew he was going to take another dive underwater. I instinctively hit the shutter button and can only hope at that moment I captured him in his dive. 

It wasn't until later, when I offloaded the images on the computer, that I discovered this image. It is an image of this long-tailed duck's tail, whipping up, and along with it was a line of water droplets that were just about perfectly symmetrical. I was so excited to have captured that exact moment. Completely as intended. But that's exactly what I love about wildlife photography! Sometimes wildlife is planned, but mostly it has ended up being unplanned moments. These are the moments that are the most memorable.

Photo Credit: Lisa Connor

What’s the role of social media in your photography journey, and how do you strike a balance between slowing down to enjoy nature and keeping up an online presence?    

I would have to say that social media has played a big part in my photography journey. Back when I was new to photography, social media platforms such as Instagram and Flickr were huge inspirations. I followed, and still follow to this day, many of the photographers that inspired me to get out there and practice wildlife photography. It has also been a great place to share experiences and offer photography related content to and from people from all over the world.

I discovered a very helpful and influential photography mentor on social media, which I probably wouldn't have found without Instagram. Social media has taught me many of the ethical ways to approach wildlife photography and so much about conservation and protecting our environment. How I strike a balance with social media is simple: I'll just remove myself from scrolling and posting for small periods of time. I don't usually do it frequently, but I have from time to time. Those periods where I need inspiration are when I put down the camera and just immerse myself in nature, and that can be during any season of the year. Also, I think it is important to take a break and focus on other things, like family and other hobbies. It’s important not to get completely engulfed in the social media world. I am such a lover of nature and wildlife that I find it hard to step away. I absolutely love to share my work and experiences with others in hopes of inspiring other photographers.

Photo Credits: Lisa Connor

Thank you so much to Lisa for taking the time to lift the curtain on her photography journey. If you enjoyed Lisa’s work and would like to see more, please head over to her Instagram page and Flickr account!