Lewis Frazier - No Image Is Worth Exposing Wildlife or Their Habitat to Harm (Wildlife Photographer from USA)

I have always been driven by a feeling of responsibility to give wildlife a voice and to speak up for the environment by educating others. As I grew up, I watched the forest around my home transform into a bustling metropolis. The wildlife became much more scarce, the landscape changed, and by the time I left for Colorado, my home was an island of trees in a sea of concrete.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I spent my childhood exploring the lakes and streams of the Texas woodlands with my family – bringing home frogs, snakes, turtles, and baby birds. On fishing trips with my father, I spent hours amusing myself in the marshes and riverbanks, learning valuable lessons in patience and understanding animal behavior.

I moved from Texas to attend the University of Colorado where I graduated with degrees in both neuroscience and psychology. It was here in Colorado that I discovered my love of photography, after receiving my first DSLR camera as a gift from my family during my first year of college. 

As a result, I discovered something much more valuable than a camera - a passion for sharing the divine beauty of nature with others through images.

2. What inspired you to pursue wildlife photography?

I have always been driven by a feeling of responsibility to give wildlife a voice and to speak up for the environment by educating others. As I grew up, I watched the forest around my home transform into a bustling metropolis. The wildlife became much more scarce, the landscape changed, and by the time I left for Colorado, my home was an island of trees in a sea of concrete.

As I traveled to remote areas all over the world, I saw and felt the environment changing firsthand in the same way, and I felt strongly that if everyone understood all that we are losing all over the world, in our own backyards, all people would want to protect it. 

I felt that I could give people a window into our wild places and help them understand that nature is a part of who we are as humans. After all, we cannot begin to protect anything until we know exactly what we have to protect. Ultimately, when we restore and protect our environment, we are restoring and protecting our own future.

3. How do you choose your subject for photography?

Many times, my mind is set on capturing the story of a certain place – the Arctic coast, the Central American rainforest - and during the COVID-19 pandemic, my own backyard. I try to immerse myself in that place, spending as much time there as I can, trying to understand the environment and the creatures that call it home. 

After spending so much time there, many times my subjects choose me. Other times, especially with more rare and elusive wildlife, I have to be more deliberate in finding the subjects which really tell the story of their environment. 

Finding the untold stories of wildlife, capturing aspects of their lives that people never see - the gentleness of a giant bear, or the ferocity of a mouse – that’s where the magic is for me.

4. What challenges do you face as a wildlife photographer?

There are many challenges of being a wildlife photographer, some more obvious than others. To many people, it would seem the greatest challenge is spending countless days in remote places and withstanding some of the most extreme conditions on earth – this is not my greatest challenge. 

For me, the greatest challenge is in educating people – some who are good-hearted and others who are intent on doing evil. Since my work is focused on conservation, I am always fighting to give wildlife a voice and to educate those who want to destroy wildlife and wild places across the planet. 

I feel there is always a way to live respectfully and sustainably alongside our wild neighbors, but that message is often met with strong opposition. At the same time, I am also fighting to educate other photographers, enthusiasts, and professionals alike, that engage in unethical wildlife photography and are willing to do almost anything for their shot at the expense of wildlife. 

I feel that wildlife must always be kept wild and undisturbed, and insist that they be photographed ethically, even if it means missing the shot. No image is worth exposing wildlife or their habitat to harm.

5. Who do you admire as a photographer?

Since my early days as a photographer, I have always admired the work of Paul Nicklen and Will Burrard-Lucas. Both of these photographers create innovative images and use them to tell stories that educate and provoke global change. I hope that I can make a similar global impact in my career as a photographer and conservationist.

6. How do you keep yourself inspired and motivated?

When I am feeling run-down or discouraged, trying to get myself out of bed and into the wilderness at 4:00am, I have to continue reminding myself of the true purpose of my work. If I can just inspire one person in my life to make a difference, that will be worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears I have put into my work over the years. 

It is easy to get discouraged when I sit and wait for many days or even weeks without seeing anything at all (aside from flies and mosquitos), but I always remind myself of the feeling when the moment finally happens – whether I get the shot or not, it is always worth the wait!

7. What tips and advice would you give to aspiring wildlife photographers?

Two main things I would tell myself if I was just starting out as an aspiring wildlife photographer: Put in your time and don’t be afraid of failure. It’s not about your gear or your travel budget. Experience cannot be bought - no amount of money, education or equipment can replace actual time-in-the-field experience.

For many years, I used an extremely basic, entry-level camera setup and had almost no travel budget. It forced me to really focus on spending time in the field, finding new subjects close to home, and perfecting my artistic vision as a photographer. 

I had to ask myself how I could capture a world-class image using only an entry-level DSLR setup. I had so many failures – hundreds of missed shots, opportunities, etc. However, instead of focusing on my disadvantages, I pushed myself to have no excuse, to learn from my mistakes and find an advantage elsewhere. 

That advantage was to gain more experience – to go deeper into the wilderness and to spend more time in the field than anyone else. That really paid off and gave way to many unique opportunities.

Lewis Frazier

28-year-old American wildlife photographer and conservationist who is passionate about capturing stories that show the beauty of the natural world and inspire people to evaluate their relationship with nature. Has traveled to some of the most remote places on the planet to give wildlife a voice and share their stories with the world.

Interviewed By - Prashansa Maurya