A local wildlife photographer has maintained a vivid outlook on life after a battle with rectal cancer.

Nearly two years after his diagnosis, he is only discovering more and more that he desires to sharpen his focus on his longtime passion: wildlife photography.

Pace Clyncke has called Greeley home for the past 22 years. As a kid, he grew up with a love for the outdoors, paired with a love for film and photography. Around 2017, he found wildlife photography to be the perfect fit.

“It’s not the only thing that gets me up in the morning, but it’s something I almost need to do before I go to bed,” he said.

Clyncke snaps pictures of animals, whether feathered or furry, roaming the outdoors around Weld County. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, he is out and about, predominantly in Greeley, Windsor and other northern Colorado locations, whenever he has the chance to take photos of wildlife species.

As people drive up and down Weld roads, many don’t know what’s mere feet away from the paved road — “a hidden gem right under your nose,” according to Clyncke. Several wildlife sites host different species all over Weld County, Clyncke said, while pointing out a great blue heron in a tree off the Poudre River Trail near 59th Street.

His favorite animals to photograph are owls and bald eagles, which can be found all around the county, according to Clyncke.

New outlook on life

In November 2021, Clyncke faced a setback in his life when a colonoscopy revealed he had rectal cancer. He immediately began going through radiation before progressing to chemotherapy in 2022. Throughout his treatment, Clyncke had three surgeries, including the shrinking and removal of his tumor.

“As of now, my last scan, everything is good,” Clyncke said.

Once Clyncke fully recovered, he decided to return his focus to wildlife photography — a passion he maintained even when he was battling cancer.

Clyncke could feel himself escape from the real world when he stepped into uncongested, peaceful outdoor locations and took pictures of the beautiful creatures that came and went.

“It was a release for sure,” he said. “It gave me an out.”

Clyncke finds peace where the wildlife lies and flies.

Along with Clyncke’s family, who he credits with keeping him going through his treatment, cancer allowed him to look at life through a new lens. The scare has made him realize a person never knows when their time is up and that everyone only has one life to live.

“You don’t realize you only have one life until you could lose the one you have,” Clyncke said.

This outlook redirected his fixation on his desire for more time to accomplish things in his life, such as taking his photography hobby and turning it into more. In addition to his day job at Premier Solutionz in Loveland, Clyncke is working hard to make a living off his passion.

Community connections

Networking is what has helped his photography side hustle grow, Clyncke said. Over the years, he has gone on to volunteer for the city of Greeley, he’s dabbled in multiple freelance opportunities and he is selling more and more of his prints to customers.

People can spot his work hanging on and off at local coffee shops in Greeley, including Aunt Helen’s. He also has his photography in the Sanderosa Art Gallery in Laporte, as well as the Loveland Chamber of Commerce.

Clyncke’s deep connections across northern Colorado habe also led to exciting opportunities such as his participation in Art in the Park in Loveland and the Arts Picnic in Greeley.

“Everybody can take pictures … obviously your pictures have to be pretty good … but it’s who knows you’re out there and being able to connect with the public,” Clyncke said. “There’s a connection that needs to be made and established.”

For more information about Clyncke and his photography, go to pace-photography.com.