For nearly 30 years, Canon U.S. has partnered with Yellowstone Forever, and I recently received a beautiful photography book based on Yellowstone National Park and Canon's short film "Seismic." In this article, I interview two of the amazing creators behind this project.
Canon's partnership with Yellowstone Forever contributes more than just beautiful imagery; the ultimate goal is to support conservation, protect all species—especially endangered species—and help the vital scientific research that happens behind the scenes.
Seismic
Earlier this year, Canon released the short film "Seismic," which delves into the rich history of Yellowstone National Park, a globally acclaimed natural wonder, shedding light on the ongoing seismic shifts the park undergoes and emphasizing the importance of preserving its fragile ecosystems and inhabitants.
The work behind the scenes was captured by Canon Explorer of Light Charles “Chas” Glatzer and Canon Creator Nathan Lee Allen using the Canon EOS R5 C camera.
Seismic: Documenting Yellowstone through Canon's Lens (youtube.com)
Both Charles and Nathan, were honored to be part of this extensive project with Canon, as Nathan explains below:
As a Canon Creator, I was honored to collaborate on Canon's project with Yellowstone Forever, particularly working alongside Chas on our short film 'Seismic'. Chas's extensive experience at Yellowstone and my background in content creation enabled us to offer a unique perspective on the park, highlighting significant seismic shifts that deserve attention.
Challenges
As expected in a task of this magnitude, the team faced multiple challenges in providing the beautiful imagery for this project. There were many elements out of the creators' hands, such as weather, wildlife migrations, filming restrictions, heavy tourism, and much more.
The scale of this operation, and the lengths Chas and Nathan went to, are admirable, and it has clearly paid dividends for their patience. When I asked them both about their challenges, Chas explained:
We are always at the mercy of logistics and what Mother Nature provides. Each day presents new challenges. Whether we are photographing wildlife or landscapes, we need the weather to cooperate, the lighting and the animals. The wildlife migrates through the park at will and it can be challenging to locate them in accessible areas.
I often get asked... How long did it take to capture that image? My response, 5 years or 1/1,600 of a second".
Nathan echoes those sentiments, as well as other limitations that they faced during their time:
The park is so heavily protected, you have several permit requirements as well as filming restrictions and limitations. You need clear and constant communication with the park staff and authorities to keep your project in line with the commercial filming rules of the park.
We shot this project in the summer and faced two unique challenges: long days from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. and significant crowds. We would wake up early, around 3 a.m. every day depending on our morning location. We had to beat the light and be ready for amazing conditions and peak wildlife viewing hours, while also navigating the thousands of park visitors each day.
As Chas and Nathan mention above, the challenges were many, but from these challenges come incredible imagery and stories that can be told and treasured for years to come.
Favorite Experiences
Needless to say, despite all of the incredible challenges that were faced during this project, there were certainly some incredible moments and experiences that will live in their minds forever. I asked Chas and Nathan what their favorite experiences were, and as expected, the pure nature of Yellowstone stands out. Nathan explains below:
Yellowstone's landscapes are among the most breathtaking in the world. Capturing its vast waterfalls, stunning sunsets, and diverse wildlife has been one of my favorite experiences.
Chas' response echoed that of Nathans:
This project allowed me to explore Yellowstone through the unique lens of protection and sustainability, deepening my appreciation for the park's rich biodiversity. I loved capturing the variety of wildlife, from baby bison to playful bear cubs, and some of the most magical birds I've ever come across.
Going Forward
After an epic project such as this, I feel it is good to get an idea of what is next for you. The buzz is high after such an incredible journey and adventure, so I asked the guys what their goals are going forward when documenting the majesty of such an amazing location and wildlife.
Both Nathan and Chas show brilliant passion towards supporting the environment and respecting the wildlife and nature that comes along with that. Nathan explains more below:
Moving forward, I have a newfound appreciation for wildlife and I am excited to collaborate with Canon on their next project around sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Nathan agrees and also believes education will play a key role:
This role gives me a platform to educate the public about nature and wildlife, and to remind them of its beauty. I strive to respect animals, parks, and boundaries by maintaining a safe distance for my safety and the protection of the animals, which ensures my presence does not have any significant impact.
Chas' comments align with my belief that as wildlife photographers, it is important to help set the standards on how to approach wildlife. Keeping your distance not only prevents disturbing the wildlife, but it also increases the likelihood of capturing those natural behaviors. If you can leave the scene of a wildlife photography session without the wildlife knowing you were there, that is always a win.
Education like this is also valuable for members of the public who visit these parks, and unfortunately, we have all seen the videos of those who get too close to animals such as bears and bison, which puts themselves, other members of the public, and also the animals in danger.
The park rangers do their best to prevent negative situations, but they can't be everywhere, so it is up to all of us who know the importance of the above to help educate those who are pushing those boundaries in a negative way.
Canon EOS R5 C
All the footage and images were captured using the Canon R5C, and both creators were thrilled to use this camera and the incredible stills and footage it provides. Chas loved the easiness of switching between stills and video, which was very much required for this project:
Having the right gear in hand to accomplish the task is critical. The R5 C allowed us to quickly change formats, providing stunning 8K video and 45 MP stills in a lightweight, compact platform. The Cine OS and button customization allow me to quickly access video settings most appropriate for the task at hand. The R5 C did it all!
Nathan was also very impressed with the hybrid capabilities of the Canon R5 C:
The Canon R5 C is easily my favorite camera I've ever shot with. Its ability to switch from a professional photo camera to a fully equipped cinema camera in under 4 seconds allows me to be as adaptable as possible in the field and capture photo and video of the same moment at once.
Nathan also explained that his only issue with the camera was the battery life; however, that has been significantly improved thanks to a firmware update, which provided 40% better battery life.
Summary
It is clear that this project was full of challenges of varying degrees, but what the team has been left with is incredible images, footage, stories, and memories to treasure.
The passion shown by Chas and Nathan shines through, and Canon has done an amazing job bringing this together while also supporting Yellowstone National Park for years.
As a wildlife photographer myself, I am a little bit jealous because a project like this is something I can only dream of, but seeing the success of this is incredibly inspirational, and I thank the team at Canon for sending me the photobook and to Chas and Nathan for answering my questions.
I look forward to following more of this journey going forward, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
