Wildlife Blog by Katie Mumm
Apr 01, 2021 02:47PM ● By EditorPhotos
submitted by Katie Mumm
April 1, 2021
I am a lifelong resident of Minnesota, currently living along the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, MN. My passion for photography began as a little girl when I would take my camera outside in my yard and capture pictures of flowers and leaves and whatever else piqued my interest
That interest
blossomed into something more when, every summer, my family would make an annual
trek to Bearskin Lodge on the Trail. I would spend hours hiking in the woods
and exploring the wonder of nature. Through those experiences, I developed a
love of the North Shore area of Minnesota and a deep respect for the animals
that live here coupled with the breathtaking scenery of the Boundary Waters. I
am most happy when I am outdoors.
My biggest thrill
comes from photographing a wild animal doing what it would be doing if I wasn’t
there. I strive to be unobtrusive both in appearance and approach. In almost
all cases, the animal is aware of my presence, but the goal is to be so
undisruptive and nonthreatening that they tolerate me and almost forget I'm
there. The best shots come from using patience and being able to capture
natural behavior.
I am passionate about
photographing wildlife on the Gunflint Trail. Part of that passion comes from
my ability to share my experiences with people who may never get to encounter
some of the animals in my photos, i.e. moose, fox, wolves, bobcats, etc.
Another part of my passion is chasing the perfect photo. Searching for tracks,
looking for droppings or evidence of an animal foraging for food or consuming
vegetation are all part of what it takes in pursuing that ideal image.
I feel it is my
responsibility to not only showcase wildlife but to educate my followers about their
behaviors and how where they live, what they eat, and the weather they live in
may influence their longevity. Many of my followers appreciate the educational
aspect I lend to photography.
I believe that
photography can be both a fine art and a powerful way to raise awareness of not
only the beauty of animals but also of their intrinsic worth. I draw
inspiration from the rare beauty of the Trail and the opportunity of living
near the shores of Lake Superior. My art offers a uniquely female perspective
in a predominantly male profession. Women are not only still largely
under-represented in wildlife photography. One of the main concerns: women are
raised not to be alone in isolated places and nature photography requires just
that. I have been able to break those barriers, in fact, I am sometimes most at
peace alone with my camera. A comment that I often receive is that my
photographs tend to have a softer more feminine touch to them.
To view more of Katie's work, visit her website: https://katiemumm.smugmug.com/