Marie Heintzman Photography

I feel privileged and deeply connected to wildlife when I observe them in their natural habitat and am witness to the rhythm of their days.

Wildlife photography requires thoughtful preparation; knowledge of individual species, their habits and their habitat; often varying degrees of hiking, climbing and travel; endless patience; and a love of the outdoors in all kinds of weather. Despite such endurance and dedication, there may be only 1 out of every 1000 pictures that captures the spirit of the animal, its essence. My hope is that the images in my Wildlife: Today for Tomorrow portfolio will evoke a sense of connection and respect for wildlife and our shared environment as well as an awareness of the immediate need for conservancy for species that are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered.

My goal as a wildlife photographer is to use my photography in ways which support wildlife conservancy so that the viewing experience of generations to come will not be limited to photographs. A portion of the proceeds from the CONTACT Toronto 2014 exhibition will be donated to the Big Life Foundation, which seeks to protect and sustain East Africa’s wild lands and wildlife. It is the only organization in East Africa that has coordinated anti-poaching teams operating on both sides of the Kenya-Tanzania border. At the current rate of poaching, there will not be any elephants or lions left in Africa in 15 years.