Burnaby’s Connor Stefanison has been snapping photos since he was a teenager, and the now-24-year-old is gaining international recognition for his work. Stefanison recently won the Rising Star Portfolio Award in the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, a category open to photographers, aged 18 to 25, from around the world. Stefanison’s work is currently on display at the London Natural History Museum until April 10. Closer to home, the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria is also showcasing Stefanison’s work, along with all the winners from the international contest, until April 4. The NOW caught up with Stefanison to chat about his work and ever-growing accolades.
What inspired you to start taking photos?
My interest in photography first came from mountain biking. I used to mountain bike every day, and my friends and I would always take photos of each other riding. Soon after, I joined a camera club with my friend and his dad. The club had many nature photographers and I soon switched to nature photography. Before this I spent much of my time in the outdoors, so I already knew of so many great places to photograph wildlife and landscapes.
How old were you when you started?
I'm now 24 years old, and I started photography in 2008 at the age of 17.
When did you win your first award?
I won various small camera club awards in the first year or two that I started, but my first notable public award was in 2011. It was an honourable mention in the Canadian Geographic Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year contest.
How many awards have you won so far?
So far I've won seven awards, with the two Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards being the biggest. I usually only enter three or four contests every year.
You do a lot of stunning nature photography, can you tell us some extremes you’ve gone to get the perfect shot?
It’s tough to think of one main event. I’ve been charged by several muskox and a grizzly bear. I’ve spent hours in -20 weather with extreme winds, and weeks sweating non-stop in the rainforests of Panama. Some of the toughest conditions I’ve had to endure to reach photo destinations are actually just dealing with clouds of mosquitos in certain places of Canada, and driving in Vancouver’s rush hour traffic.
Do you have any advice for budding photographers?
My main three pieces of advice for beginner wildlife photographers is to shoot locally, worry about composition more than equipment, and to shoot for yourself rather than your audience. If you enjoy photography enough, you’ll find yourself shooting a lot and thus, improving your skills.
Check out Stefnison's work at www.connorstefanison.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/connorstefanisonphotography/
Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connorstefanison.
