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Photographer captures amazing shots of otter devouring fish in Toronto park
Vast networks of ravines and waterways make Toronto a surprisingly hospitable city for wildlife, and one doesn’t have to search too far to catch a glimpse of natural wonder in the heart of the city.
One local wildlife photographer managed to capture some truly impressive shots of the food chain on full display on a recent visit to Toronto’s High Park, photographing an otter hungrily snacking on a freshly caught fish amid the bitter January cold snap.
Photographer Henry Huy of HN Photography tells blogTO he was visiting the park on January 13 around 3 p.m., searching for known park residents, including coyotes and great horned owls, when something unexpected caught his eye.
Huy says he “spotted a moving animal in the water by the Grenadier Pond,” at first believing it to be a muskrat or a beaver. He then “noticed the tail was slender, pointed and long, unlike a beaver tail, which is flat and wide,” and remembered a 2022 blogTO article about an otter seen taking a swim in Lake Ontario.
Keeping his lens trained on the animal as it moved through the water, he witnessed the otter capture multiple fish and bring them back to its den. But he remained patient, braving the cold for over two hours until, finally, his lucky moment arrived.
The High Park otter is seen dragging a fish back to its den.
“The otter caught one big pumpkinseed fish and dragged it onto the frozen snow-covered ground,” explained Huy. “It looked at me and I spent a few minutes looking at it in a way [as if to say] that I’m not a threat to it. The otter started eating the fish and I could hear the sound of the otter breaking the fish.”
He says the animal was a mere 15 feet away during this chance encounter.
The otter feasts on a brightly-coloured pond perch as ice forms on its whiskers.
The presence of North American river otters in the city is noteworthy, as the species was extirpated from the area in the early 20th century.
There is mounting evidence, however, that otters are making a comeback in Toronto since first being spotted at the edge of the city back in 2012. In recent years, sightings of the animals — and debates over exactly which species is being spotted — have become more common.
Photographers have captured similar animals at large in other parts of the city, and Huy says that wildlife shutterbugs have had their eyes trained on High Park for possible otter sightings for some time now, but to no avail.
Huy says that, about a month earlier, “around 35 photographers and birders came to High Park and waited for hours for the otter, but it didn’t show up on that day.”
Based on his experience at Grenadier Pond, Huy believes that there are two aquatic critters living in the small body of water — the otter and a second smaller animal with a reddish nose; however, a wildlife expert is unsure of the second animal’s species from the lone photo provided.
Nathalie Karvonen of the Toronto Wildlife Centre confirms Huy’s photographs of the brown-nosed animal as an otter, though she thinks that the reddish-nosed animal photographed swimming in the pond may actually be a beaver or a muskrat.
A second aquatic mammal, possibly a beaver or muskrat, swimming in Grenadier Pond.
While there is no questioning that there is indeed an otter in High Park, Karvonen tells blogTO that “Grenadier can’t really sustain otter populations permanently, but it is possible they could pass through for short times,” adding that the animals have indeed “been seen there occasionally before.”
Karvonen advises anyone who encounters an otter to exercise caution, saying that “otters are very beautiful, but rather ferocious if challenged or cornered.”
She warns pet owners should be especially careful, saying, “I might worry more about the pets than the otters if they were in close contact. It’s always best to keep pets away from wildlife for many reasons.”
The public should also take care in respecting these animals’ habitats, stating that “Grenadier pond, for example, has a chronic and serious problem with fishing waste. It impacts wildlife negatively on a regular basis.”
Lead photo by
Henry Huy/HN Photography
Mayville Snow Sculpture Has Fans Ready To ‘Billieve’
MAYVILLE — If you happen to be driving around Chautauqua Lake, chances are you’ll see a buffalo — a Buffalo Bills snow sculpture that is. Nick and Sally Andriaccio, owners of Andriaccio’s Restaurant, again commissioned Vince Liuzzo to design and create his latest snowy masterpiece. And the Andriaccios are not done with just commissioning the […]
40 Years of Sundance: A Look Back With Photographer Jeff Vespa
2024 marks the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford’s winter refuge for actors, filmmakers and indie studios who flock to Park City, Utah to celebrate cinema away from the franchises and nine-digit budgets of Hollywood.
It is also, apparently, a place for those celebs to have some snowball fights.
Kyle MacLachlan & Ethan Hawke during Sundance Film Festival 2000 in Park City, Utah, United States.
This pic of a 29-year-old Ethan Hawke slinging a fistful of frozen water was taken back in 2000 by photographer Jeff Vespa, who now serves as the creative director of TheWrap. He recalls coming across Hawke and actor Kyle MacLachlan, who were in Park City for the premiere of their modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” directed by Michael Almereyda, and took this spontaneous photo out in one of the parking lots.
“I didn’t even know I had this picture until the day after I took it and I looked back through the film,” Vespa told TheWrap. “This is the most quoted picture I’ve ever taken. It was in ‘People’ and I think it was in ‘Entertainment Weekly,’ too. Even years later, when Entertainment Weekly was sponsoring Sundance, they’d have the photo in their official festival space.”
Vespa parlayed photos like these into a job as the official photographer for Sundance from 2003 to 2017, taking tens of thousands of photos of the festival’s big stars.
“There were about 2,500-2,700 pictures I took myself that are now online,” Vespa said. “But, overall, I have around 50,000 pictures in my archives just from Sundance. I’ve probably taken more photos at the festival than anyone else.”
Vespa has been a regular at Sundance going back to 1995, after just graduating from the American Film Institute and went to the festival as an attendee. Two years later he met veteran photographer Randall Michelson and offered to help him take photos at the festival.
“He had this prepared speech about how people say they are going to help him, but they’re only there for half an hour and don’t do anything, but I insisted. ‘No, I’m really going to help you!’” he recalled. “So I came up with him in ’99, and that year I really understood the lay of the land when it comes to photography.”
Many of Vespa and Michelson’s photos in 1999 and 2000, like the one with Hawke, were shot out in the Park City cold; but in 2001, the pair began taking photos in studio spaces and at festival parties and screenings. Those pictures served as the basis for WireImage, a successful entertainment photo company that was acquired by Getty Images in 2007.
“My whole career has been really built around Sundance and I often say that I don’t think Robert Redford completely understands what he’s done, not just for filmmakers, but for various other people in entertainment,” Vespa said.
Vespa shared his photos of today’s big stars when they were still on the rise at Sundances in the early 2000s, including “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan at the dawn of their careers. You can check out those photos below.
Kyle MacLachlan & Ethan Hawke Sundance Film Festival 2000 Park City, Utah USA January 22, 2000
Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston & Robert Redford during 2002 Sundance Film Festival – “The Good Girl” Premiere at Eccles Center For The Performing Arts in Park City, Utah, United States.
Ben Affleck at Sundance Film Festival 2000 at Committed Premiere
Matt Damon during Sundance Film Festival 2000 – Committed Premiere at Park City Library in Park City, Utah, United States.
Ryan Gosling at Sundance Film Festival 2001
More than two decades before he enchanted the world with his Kenergy, Ryan Gosling enthralled Sundance with “Believer,” a drama directed by Henry Bean in which Gosling plays a young Jewish man who hates his own identity to the point that he becomes a Neo-Nazi. Vespa’s photo of him above has never been published until now.
Vespa: “I just remember my friend was really close with him, and he was like, ‘You gotta photograph this kid, he’s gonna be huge. I knew I’d done this picture, but when I searched for it I couldn’t find it in my folders. I had to go all the way back to the raw images and I finally found it and thought, ‘How did this never get posted?’”
Taika Waititi during 2004 Sundance Film Festival – “Two Cars One Night” Portraits at HP Portrait Studio in Park City, Utah, United States.
Kristen Stewart at the HP Portrait Studio in Park City, Utah – 2004 Sundance Film Festival – “Speak” Portraits
20 years ago, a teenage Kristen Stewart appeared at Sundance in the teen drama “Speak,” in which she played a high school freshman who goes silent after being raped by a senior.
Robin Wright Penn and Robert Downey Jr. at 2003 Sundance Film Festival – “The Singing Detective” – Portraits
Composer/actor Bob Dylan and Penélope Cruz at 2003 Sundance Film Festival – “Masked and Anonymous” Party
Greta Gerwig at the Sky 360 by Delta lounge WireImage portrait studio on January 22, 2008 in Park City, Utah.
America Ferrera during 2005 Sundance Film Festival – “How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer” Portraits at HP Portrait Studio in Park City, Utah, United States.
Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis during 2003 Sundance Film Festival – “American Splendor” – Portraits at Yahoo Movies Portrait Studio in Park City, Utah, United States.
Paul Giamatti has slowly but surely gained momentum for a possible Best Actor victory at the Oscars for his performance in “The Holdovers,” but Vespa notes that even decades after he took this photo of him at the 2003 Sundance, he still seems nervous about appearing at festivals.
Vespa: “It’s funny because he’s appeared at festivals to promote ‘Sideways’ and ‘American Splendor’ and all these films but, when I was at Palm Springs [film festival], he said, ‘Oh, I’m so nervous, I’ve never done this before.’ I had to remind him that, yeah, he has done this before and that I’ve shot photos with him, and he said, ‘Oh, no, no, this is totally different.’ I guess because now there’s social media and campaigning is so much more intense, he’s thrown by it all.”
Naomi Watts at Sundance 2001 – MAC/Diesel: Make Over Day
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal at Sundance Film Festival 2001 – “Donnie Darko” Portraits
Jodie Foster, Kieran Culkin, Emile Hirsch & Jena Malone at 2002 Sundance Film Festival – “Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys” Portraits
Clea DuVall & Natasha Lyonne during Sundance Film Festival 2000 in Park City, Utah, United States.
Joe Pantoliano, Christopher Nolan, & Guy Pearce at Sundance 2001 – Memento – Portraits
Kirsten Dunst, James Woods, A.J. Cook, Hanna R. Hall, & Kathleen Turner at Sundance Film Festival 2000 – The Virgin Suicides Party
Katie Holmes at 2003 Sundance Film Festival – “The Singing Detective” – Portraits
Juliette Lewis & Gena Rowlands at 2002 Sundance Film Festival – “Hysterical Blindness” Premiere
Kate Hudson & Stuart Townsend during Sundance Film Festival 2000 in Park City, Utah, United States
Robert Redford during 2003 Sundance Film Festival – Robert Redford – Portraits at Yahoo Movies Portrait Studio in Park City, UT, United States.
Lisa Marie Presley & John Oszajca during Sundance Film Festival 2000 – The Virgin Suicides Party in Park City, Utah, United States
Mariah Carey, Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters during 2002 Sundance Film Festival – “Wisegirls” Press Conference at The Lodge at Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, United States.
Philip Seymour Hoffman at 2002 Sundance Film Festival – “Love Liza” Portraits
William H. Macey and Maria Bello during 2003 Sundance Film Festival – “The Cooler” – Portraits at Yahoo Movies Portrait Studio in Park City, Utah, United States
Courtney Love Snowboarding at Sundance 2001
Kyle MacLachlan 2002 Sundance Film Festival – “Miranda” Portraits Harry O’s Park City, Utah USA January 15, 2002
Check out all our Sundance coverage here.
Bird Photography Workshop Series with Sebastian Kennerknecht (Webinar) –
Learn the ins and outs of bird photography with international renowned wildlife and conservation photographer Sebastian Kennerknecht in this workshop series! Mix and match the sessions you are most interested in learning about. All sessions will be from 6:00pm-7:30pm Pacific and are $100 each, or you can bundle all 4 sessions together for a discounted price of $325. This series includes classes on exposure, composition, and focusing, with an image critique in session 4.
Meet the artist behind the St. Regis ‘One Dollar’ sculpture
Around Dec. 13, 2023, a 6-foot 5-inch, 500-pound bronze sculpture of a dollar bill appeared in front of the St. Regis Aspen Resort at 315 E. Dean St. in Aspen. For some who have come…
Sculpture Designed by Atang Tskikare 3D Printed in Only 20 Days
Artist Atang Tskikare has 3D printed an incredible sculpture in only 20 days, a heretofore unknown feat in terms of speed.
Seattle Interior Airbnb Photography
Zoe Wiseman Fine Art Photography Book Signing Event at Book Soup in West Hollywood
Zoe Wiseman, Fine Art Photographer, Book Soup
Ida #4 for Sunkissed 85 by Zoe Wiseman
“Sunkissed 85” by Zoe Wiseman
The images in this book were created using discontinued Polaroid Type 85 film and Solarization.
Thanks to Zoe Wiseman for her constant uplifting efforts in the world of figure photography.”
— Leonard Nimoy
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, January 18, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Book Soup, the iconic independent bookstore in West Hollywood, is thrilled to host a book signing event featuring renowned visionary fine art photographer Zoe Wiseman. The event will take place on Monday, January 29th, 2024.
Sunkissed 85 is a limited first edition showcasing Wiseman’s mastery of Solarization, a technique refined by Lee Miller and Man Ray in the 1920s. The book features photographs from 2001 to 2022, all created using discontinued Polaroid Type 85 film.
Event Details:
Book Signing with Zoe Wiseman
Date: Monday, January 29th, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet Zoe Wiseman in person, explore her work, and have copies of her first monograph, Sunkissed 85, signed during the event.
Zoe Wiseman’s fearless approach to photography, embracing chance and the unexpected, has resulted in a body of work beyond aesthetic appeal. Her profound respect for subjects and the balance of strength and beauty within meticulously composed frames create a visceral impact that transports viewers into an otherworldly multiverse.
The late Leonard Nimoy expressed gratitude to Wiseman, saying, “Thanks to Zoe Wiseman for her constant uplifting efforts in the world of figure photography.”
Nimoy’s heartfelt acknowledgment of Wiseman’s impactful contributions uplifts her status as a trailblazer in the art of photography and their collaboration on The Full Body Project.
Please visit Zoe Wiseman’s website for more information about Sunkissed 85 and Zoe Wiseman’s extraordinary work. Sunkissed 85 is available to purchase through Amazon or Shopify: https://zoephoto.myshopify.com/
About Zoe Wiseman:
Zoe Wiseman is a renowned fine art photographer known for her innovative use of Solarization and alternative photographic techniques. With a career spanning more than two decades, Wiseman’s work is exhibited and collected worldwide. Her artistry pushes the boundaries of traditional Photography, resulting in images that are both surreal and captivating.
About Book Soup: Book Soup, located at 8818 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, has been a literary landmark since 1975. With its vast and diverse selection, the bookstore is a haven for readers seeking a curated collection of independent and classic titles. Book Soup’s commitment to supporting independent voices aligns seamlessly with celebrating Zoe Wiseman’s groundbreaking work.
About Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy, renowned for his role as Spock in Star Trek, was an influential actor, director, author, and photographer.
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Grayce McCormick
Lightfinder Public Relations
lightfinderpr@gmail.com
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