Conservationist and photographer Shauna heart In winter, Rocky Mountains and Yelostone make wildlife. With a busy schedule, she shared with her photography, inspiration and insight Petpixel,
Shauna Hart is a prize -winning conservation photographer, with a career of wildlife and years of dedication to the environment. While she was always ready for visual art, she credits her husband, Scott, the hill west for opening her eyes for the beauty of the west. Jokingly referred to as “Sherpa”, Scott is with a great experience wandering in the west with outsiders of a lifetime. His knowledge and passion for Wils was an excellent source of support and inspiration for Shuna Heart.
When he married Scott, he brought him back, where he grew up, South -East Idaho and Northeast Utah, where his love grew outside. From hiking and camp to his first forces with a cell phone and canon rebel, he began to take a picture of natural beauty, not only appreciated it.
Hart started many people by sharing his photos with friends and family. His positive response and encouragement was enough for him to invest in digital photography gear and enter his work in photography competitions. It was not too long before winning. With a vision board filled with county fair ribbon, she was inspired to enhance her game. It was an investment in high quality devices that Hart says she says her serious stage.
Six years later, she has won international awards, such as Sony Alpha Women Grant for her photo shown above. Recently, in 2024, he was awarded the choice of top 31 judges of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) in protection for a heart -breaking photo. Full of passion, she describes the story behind the image shown below:
“I was working as a photographer contributing with Sev Peepal Save Wildlife, (Park City, Utah) for many years. The director actually lives near the State Road (SR224) in Park City, Utah and especially during seasonal migration, auto sees the results of wildlife accidents weekly.
The director and I were trying to hurry wildlife movement and activity a morning. We were not looking at too much activity, because the light was getting very rigid since late morning. It was September, and there was definitely an increase in traffic at the beginning of school year. Suddenly, he spied that it looked like a patch of blood on the road. He rolled the car around and focused on the corpse of a cow. We both got out of the car, and he immediately kneiled to touch the elk and closed his eyes to mourn. It immediately became an emotional moment and I turned on the camera and started shooting. She suddenly stood up because she started crying loudly. I kneeled down and took more shots, making the light sure to get traffic in the right and background. Even at that moment, I knew that the shots I had taken had told the story from his point of view, not among the dead wildlife. It was of the intestine for him and it happened because I saw the moment through my visualization.
While returning home to edit, I tried to emphasize him a little more. Later when Nanpa is entered into the annual photo competition, I really didn’t know if someone would feel as if I had made the photo, but the title came easily – “who cares”.
I think the award alone was exciting and satisfactory. Knowing that the issues of wildlife connectivity in my part of the world were important for others, there was a difference for me. This reminded me that my skills had achieved that I could combine them with my passion for this issue and paint both of them in my day, week and year in the same photo! Given that, when I received an email later on the day of the announcement from a acclaimed international protectionist, more than one prize winner protection photographer, telling me that the photo was “very emotional and photo in the very emotional and photo journalistic image” I really tore. In my opinion, I worked so hard, with resources limited to years to combine my improving skills in my passion and photography. This was one of the most valid experiences ever in my photography journey. ,
Despite appreciation and achievements, the heart still describes the feeling that he has a lack of a defined style.
“Last year, either by turning back, in particular, I think I have developed my work in my style. When you are closer to them from the scene to the computer and editing process through the lens, it is difficult to define your own artistic creations. If I am being honest, I must say that I am impressed by some “affected” and who have refined their style. And, most importantly, affected by the environment in which I am shooting.
I believe it was Ansel Adams who said something about the effect that you do not “take” a picture, you make it “”. I did not really understand that soon. I definitely do it now. When I am looking at a rare view of wildlife in a row with 20 other wildlife lovers, I never worried that my post on social media will be one of one thousand shots that looks similar. From my “prescription” of experiences and knowledge, creating an image to my view is so beneficial because it will not look like anyone else. This is unique to me. I hope everyone else feels the same because they and their work are also unique! ,
Despite the completion of so much in the last six years, Shawana Hart humbly describes herself. She shared that she still considers herself artistic and growing in her story telling abilities. With her beloved Soni A7R IV and Sony 200-600 mm F/5.6-6.3g, she wants to create an artistic representation that tells the stories of her wildlife.
When the picture draws, it starts with the standard profile shot and then goes to the more professional environmental images. However, the best pictures telling a story are where she lights. Particularly photographing topics such as issues of protection in wildlife connectivity and behavior is its latest collection. She often works with NGOs to tell stories of challenges that encounter wildlife, which once takes the spread of humanity to wild places. Some of the note projects are his job with the endangered Hupping Crane, conservation of 100 -year -old ash trees in a northern Utah, advocating for Great Salt Lake, and wildlife connectivity on roadways for dedicated wildlife crossings.
To create wildlife perspective to tell your story, Hart has described a combination of reading and research to take photographs of specific species in specific places. She reviews the shots of other photographers, but also learns about the animal to inform and guide him. The weather also plays an essential factor. With the rigid winter season, the west is certainly a dialecticalism that affects animals, their habitats and as a result. Knowledge of his wildlife subjects helps him combine that expertise with patience just to create the right photos to document the life of animals. His ethos on his photography process is practical:
“Light, shadow, wildlife, weather, all of this is moving around you as you try to” make a picture “. After about 7 years, I can say that my photography has become comfortable. It’s not to say that I still do not study or search in a new way to create some composition or frame, but I think I think I have done enough practices to remember my brain and my brain to remember my brain. It is without saying that I know and praise, no matter how much you have experiences or what gear you have to shoot.
It was that there was a practical approach and dedication for research to assist her photography which also turned her into the work of protection and advocacy. He is ready for conservation issues, especially wildlife connectivity and behavior. As an emotional person, he has been asked to lead the Utah Wildlife Federation as the Chairman of the Board and described it as his latest passion project.
“For now, as the chairman of the board, the Utah Wildlife has been asked to lead the Federation, it is the place where I have focus. The entire Intermountan West Wildlife Law is at a significant turn to water policy, and most states are around the neck to develop current wildlife management schemes. I can contribute to any attempt, photography or otherwise, on these issues, which I am also emotional, is the one who now takes precious time. I consciously spend at least in my small corner, to take a picture of this amazing world several times a week. In 2025 I will have the opportunity to collaborate with many NGOs (non-governmental organizations), which require their passion projects and need other important stories told to them. I am eager to share those experiences. ,
In wildlife protection, to live with Shauna Hart’s exploits, he can be found on Instagram And his website Byhartphotography.com. She also carries through Winter Yellowstone Tips Fresh track tourism.
Image Credit: Shuna heart.
