About the Photographer

For my main income and livelihood, I am a High School Biology teacher at Unity High School in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin (bcollins@unity.k12.wi.us). I hold a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota at St. Paul and will be finishing my Master of Science in Education at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls in the summer of 2005. My main professional goal, no matter where I am, is to inform people of the beauty and fragility of truly wild places. By the year 2100, it is likely we will have lost nearly 10% of all bird species and, quite likely, a grotesquely large number of important Arctic species. People have lost touch with many of the little details. They haven’t discovered their colorful neighbors, birds that occur in abundance in the corner wood lot, birds that enhance the beauty and quality of life. While the spotlight of conservation plays at center stage upon the more famous creatures, many other species quietly disappear from the great stage of Planet Earth. At the same time, amazing successes in conservation highlight the true caring nature of humans, especially those informed enough to have become dedicated conservationists. My photography is my best attempt to convey the personality, beauty, and importance of all things wild.

My photographic vision of nature drives me in ways that are difficult to explain. It starts with an overwhelming sense of care and love for wild spaces and wild creatures. I have been intrigued with the colors, patterns and textures of birds since early childhood, and, in a sort of abstract way, I have needed to find a way to "feel" the textures of birds all of the time. The eye of the observer, given enough information, can sort of "feel" texture vicariously for the hand. This strange sort of sensory compensation is what drives my photographic journey. I was a bird photographer first, and I have become a nature photographer second. In every image, I try to give you a personal experience with the animal or the place or the flower. I try to put you in the moment and the light. I try to help you to wonder, and I hope this will make sure you care about those species and those places before we displace them from our planet by choice or by lack of awareness. My photographic vision is always changing. I may set out with a deliberate plan, but each and every time, the bird or butterfly or landscape changes my vision through the unanticipated. A behavioral change, a change in surroundings, an unexpected encounter, or a change in light will forever change the canvas of the artist’s mind. This is the real joy in interacting with nature as a photographer. In every pursuit of an image, I live a rich life filled with adventures and unexpected gifts from nature. My photos have been published in many projects from Adventure Publications in Cambridge, Minnesota, and I have had recent luck with the KARE 11 Weatherguide Calendars. Currently, I have been enjoying success in publishing stories and photos with Cabin Life Magazine, a high quality magazine with a beautiful layout.  Check them out at www.cabinlife.com.

Take time to smell the roses, and keep your eyes open to the beauty of the wild. Enjoy!

Brian M. Collins

Images in Natural Light