Darwin Wiggett is renowned internationally for his photography and is an icon among aspiring photographers; but this has not affected his opinion of himself, as is seen in the bio from his website:

“Hey, this is the page where I am supposed to tell you what a great guy I am and how I make amazing photos and that I am published worldwide to great acclaim. And also how you should spend big dollars buying my images. Whatever. . . yada, yada, yada . . . only you decide if you like my photos (the great guy part is reserved for a higher judgment, I suppose . . .). All I know for sure is my mom likes my photos!”

Mentor, teacher, avid outdoorsman, author, and humorist are all words that describe this talented an imaginative photographer. Darwin and I have communicated for years and he has always gone out of his way to encourage me and to provide advice about countless issues I have framed for him. Throughout our messages, his humility and sensor of humor have come across loudly.

I am grateful to him for this interview.

(Note: Photographs used with this interview are copyrighted © and may not be used without the consent of Darwin Wiggett.)

__________

Lockhart:

What compelled you to take up photography as your life-long career?

Wiggett:

“I was working on my Masters Thesis in Zoology and found that a career as wildlife biologist was not what I had envisioned it would be. I was spending about 8 months in the office writing papers and proposals and grant requests and only spending 4 months in the field per year. I wanted a way to spend more of my time out in nature. I read a book by Freeman Patterson, “The Photography of Natural Things” and that book changed my life. I bought a camera and started documenting the world around me. I became addicted to making photos. That was 1986 and I am still addicted to photography.”

__________

Lockhart:

Your nature photography is instantly recognized as your own, how did you develop such a unique style?

Wiggett:

“The photographer is always the last to know that he or she has achieved a ’style’. People started telling me in the early 1990’s that “I knew that was a ‘Darwin picture’ as soon as I saw it”. I could not recognize that I had a style - I could not even define it at the time. A style does not develop conscientiously - it can’t. It must come from within and then is expressed outwardly. The way to ‘develop’ a style is simply to shoot from your heart. A lot of photographers get hung up on emulating another photographer who they admire. My greatest influence was Freeman Patterson, but I shoot nothing like him. So I would say, do not try to imitate another photographer, be true to your own voice and shoot the things that matter to you in a way that feels comfortable - from there a ’style’ will develop.”

__________

Lockhart:

Your interests go beyond nature photography; some of your work is filled with humor and irony, what prompted you to pursue humor in your works?

Wiggett:

“Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am just a goofy kid at heart. I love to laugh, and love to poke fun at myself. Growing up in the Wiggett family was growing up with jokesters, you had to have a sense of humour to survive! And survive you do - all that laughing left most of my older relatives living into their 90’s.”

__________

Lockhart:

Beyond photographs, you have written extensively about photography and various techniques, what do you think is your best effort in this regard? Is there one book or publication that you think is your best work? What is it?

Wiggett:

“My best effort to date is “How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies“. This is an area of the world I feel deeply about and love to share. I have gotten many, many ‘thank you’s’ from photographers around the world praising the liitle book as just what they needed to get the best from their Canadian Rockies trip. The book put them in the right spot at the right time to get the best photos possible - the results people send me and post on the web speak for themselves. Photography is more about being in the right place at the right time than it is about technique and equipment - my book solves the hardest part of photography for most people.”

__________

Lockhart:

You teach photography as well, tell us about your workshops and what they offer?

Wiggett:

“The tours I give in the Rockies are different than any of the other Rockies tours out there. First our group size is only six. Second we are based out of an eco-lodge that is not in the Banff or Jasper area but in a less visited; less well know spot called the Kootenay Plains in Alberta. This is the ultimate ’secret spot’ in Alberta and is equally as beautiful as anything in the parks. The Kootenay Plains are also my ’spiritual home’ - the place I feel the most at peace and calm. And the lodge is great, the photography group takes over the whole lodge and we are based out of this remarkable quiet spot in this unique lodge run by this amazing couple Alan and Madeleine Ernst. The meals are home cooked, the ambience is like staying in a friends house. There simply is no lodge like it in the Rockies.

“Based on the light and conditions Alan and I take participants out to do photography. Our goal is to get people to the best spots in the best light. We have so much variety in the area that we can find something spectacular no matter what light nature gives us. About half the time is spent in the national parks (at lesser know spots) and the other half on the Kootenay Plains. We leave the Rockies Icons and the crowds to the rest of the tourists.

“The shooting schedule is hard core - we shoot from dawn to dusk (easy in the winter with short days, hard in the spring with really long days!). We live, eat, and breathe photography. This is intense photography immersion and many people come out the experience shooting at a much higher level. I don’t really do ‘formalized’ instruction on these tours but answer questions and solve problems in the field. This is definitely a “learn by doing” type of education. We have had many repeat clients some up to four times and the tours fill up a year in advance so I think our formula is working. For me, I easily get as much from the students in terms of learning and inspiration as they get from me. I really enjoy teaching and sharing and the photo tours are the perfect vehicle to achieve that result.”

__________

Lockhart:

Among photographers of the past, who influenced you the most?

Wiggett:

“Freeman Patterson www.freemanpatterson.com - for his sense of photography as art and expression.

“Daryl Benson www.darylbenson.com - I know no-one other photographer as creative and versatile as Daryl and I know even fewer people as kind and giving and funny.

“Tim Fitzharris www.timfitzharris.com and John Shaw www.johnshawphoto.com.

“Their ‘how to’ nature photography books were the textbooks of my home school of photography.

“Galen Rowell www.mountainlight.com - for his great work in the mountains and for popularizing grad filters.

“Mark Degner www.markandlesliedegner.com - for his friendship and travel buddy on early photo adventures.

__________

Lockhart:

Was there a mentor who helped you along the way? Who was it? What skills did that person pass on to you that have remained with you until today?

Wiggett:

“Daryl Benson was in the same camera club I joined in 1986. He was more advanced than me and was producing incredible work. We became friends and shot for some time together and from him I really ‘learned to see’ beyond the obvious. And also Daryl just had this innate understanding of light and that light was the real subject. From Daryl, I came to see - that was his gift to me.

__________

Lockhart”

Among modern photographers, whom do you respect the most? Why?

Wiggett:

“The above mentioned and especially Wayne Lynch www.waynelynch.ca who taught me the value of story in photos, who taught me the value of words in making a living in photography, and who makes me laugh till my brain hurts and I have abdominal cramps.

“There are so many new and great photographers coming along that blow me away with their talents that I am constantly flabbergasted! The photographers who frequent NPN www.naturephotographers.net, NSN www.naturescapes.net and Timecatchers www.timecatchers.com inspire me greatly.”

__________

Lockhart:

How do you see your future? What is it you want to accomplish with your works that you have not achieved as of today?

Wiggett:

“The future – more of the doing same but with new experiences and a broader viewpoint in terms of my photographer. I would now like to do two things with my photos. First to do more ‘personal work’ that is more expressive and spiritual and full of story. Second I would like to use my photography to better the world like save some endangered habitat, raise awareness for an issue, or somehow bring joy or appreciation for nature.

__________

Lockhart:

Tell us about your equipment, why do you use the equipment you do?

Wiggett:

“I have used many different types of cameras over the past twenty years from large format to panoramic cameras to point-n-shoot and toy cameras. The cameras are to me like brushes are to painter. I have to try different types out for different ways to express myself. Today I use a Canon EOS-1ds Mark III and a Canon G9 for most of my shooting. Ask me in six months and the answer may be different – I go through phases so who knows what gear will be next? I like gear as much as the next guy but I create my ‘style’ with whatever camera falls in my hand. Give me a G9 or a Holga or a 6×17 pan and I still make Darwin type photos.”

__________

Lockhart:

What projects are you currently working on?

Wiggett:

“I have become very jaded about the book publishing industry and how the industry stifles creativity and only goes with ‘safe’ ideas (same as the movie and music industry). The web and on-demand publishing has given artists their voice to reach millions of others – I plan to self-publish new e-books and on-demand books that are very specific in scope and audience from pieces on conservation of local habitat to instructional works for photographers. This is a very exciting time to be an artist and everyone out there has a book or idea that has merit. You just gotta do it but now we don’t have to rely on a publishing house to make it happen.”

__________

Lockhart:

What do you dream about?

Wiggett:

“Flying like a bird, swimming like a dolphin – experiencing things out of the human realm. How does a wolf see the world? What is it like in the day in the life of a muskrat or pine tree? Can we personalize other species experiences to give their existence greater value?”

__________

Lockhart:

What inspires you now?

Wiggett:

“The ability to see and share so much art and information so easily.”

__________

Lockhart:

Is there one moment in your career that you remember which will remain with you forever? What was it?

Wiggett:

“Earlier in my career I photographed out of competition to do ‘better’ than people I photographed with or to make photos that were ‘killer’ stock photos that would sell tons. In the end that way of working was hollow and unfulfilling. I almost stopped doing photography. Then I started shooting for myself and from my heart and my work and success grew exponentially. And now I am more inspired than ever because my photos come from within and not from some outside influence like trying to be someone else or win some artificial competition. I think this transformation is an age thing especially for guys. In our 20 and 30’s we are insecure and one-upmanship shows the world how ‘clever we are’. As we mature we get more confidence and ability and start speaking from within and stop caring so much what our peers think. This transformation from insecure competitive photographer to a photographer who shoots from within has been the biggest boost in my career and ability to express myself. ”

__________

Lockhart:

Which of your works is your personal favorite? Why?

Wiggett:

“My favorites are often not ones that resonate with the general public because they might be images that have some inner personal meaning or represent a growth stage in my development. Mostly these are intimate nature scenes that are introspective.”

__________

Lockhart:

What advice do you have for beginning photographers?

Wiggett:

“Shoot what you love and don’t just imitate others. Learn as much as you can and try out all techniques to help find the tools that you can best use to express yourself. Don’t let other tell you your are on the wrong track if it feels right to your heart.”

__________

I wish to express my sincere thanks to Darwin for this interview. Of the hundreds of photographers I have known, he has earned my respect for his flawless work, his love of life, and his wonderful and real sense of humor. I have read just about everything he has written, and there is no better writer about photography today.