A smile in the dark: Finding the Unexpected through the lens at the Ecomuseum

The chaos of life could make us forget to stop and appreciate its beauty and more often than not a moment to pause brings something unexpected, something that makes you smile, like this turtle you just saw. I recently followed that urge to slow down and reconnect with my camera. I found a perfect spot to use it but I did not want to go there alone. My friend's husband suggested to bring her and their baby with me for a much-needed mental break and the perfect excuse to practice my photography. It was a classic case of feeding two birds with one scone; helping a friend find peace while finally scratching the photography itch I’ve been craving.

So, we packed up the stroller and headed to the Ecomuseum of Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue. It was the perfect middle ground: plenty of animals for me to practice my new craft, and a change of scenery for a mom and her baby who had spent too many days stuck indoors. The museum offered fresh outdoor air and clear skies with a guaranteed sighting of the animals, all bundled with a warm building where we could retreat after a long walk in the cold.

The Ecomuseum is a non-profit featuring exclusively animals from the province of Quebec and has a mission to take care of the orphaned, rehabilitated and rescued. As I dive deeper into photography, I start to see the impact of my presence to animals around me. A wildlife photographer should minimize their impact on nature and become invisible, but the human touch goes far and the people at the museum take care of those affected by it. While I will use this place as a training ground, I do it knowing my presence supports a sanctuary, ready for the time I'll go explore the great outdoors.

Now equipped with a clear conscience, a warm coat and my camera, we were ready to depart. The crisp air of a sunny day of winter was a great refresher for our mind but not so much for my fingers trying to compose a shot. The harsh light against the white snow made for a bright and beautiful scene, with sometime a bit too much light for my lens but provided much needed vitamin D.

We started by visiting the mammals and birds outside, going around slowly with the baby safely tucked in Mama's coat and me trying to warm my fingers in my pockets between camera shots. We made frequent stops to admire the different animals and frames I could use. Taking the time to analyze each scene was a luxury I wouldn't have in the wild, like finding angles to hide the fences or adjusting my position for a cleaner composition. I realized that this is the real benefit of training in a zoo.

Our first stop on the tour was the two Canada lynxes quietly huddled together with their thick winter fur as one warm fluff ball. They were lying there looking content while I was scouting different angles until I clicked the shutter on this one. I chose this back-view shot since it captured the familiar feline behaviour we all recognize, a cat sleeping under the sun. Plus, the branch in the foreground makes it feels like we are in the forest with them, rather than standing on a platform.

I can't share with you any photo of the ravens, next to the bird area because I could not get a good shot of them, either the fence was too distracting or I could not dial the right settings in time. We entered the bird section which was a lot more spacious and easier to navigate around than the raven one. There, we met lots of ducks and geese. One snow Goose decided to look at us while I was zoomed in with a fast aperture to blur the fence. The bird, popping out in the frame, gave us a look that seemed to ask if those humans finally brought food.

Next up was supposed to be the bear, but he was firmly off the clock, deep in winter sleep after quite a feast in fall and, quite frankly, uninterested in any photoshoot until spring.

As we moved away from the empty den, we saw it standing tall atop the hill. The wolf was there, silent, gazing into the distance with intelligence. Not at me, nor the birds rustling in the trees next to it, but toward some unseen threat only it could sense. And since we are in a zoo, it must have been the wind. Speaking of zoo, this section featured a platform far away enough that I had the leeway to zoom in and not being seen. I selected this photo as the wolf's gaze depicts the focus of a predator while allowing us to appreciate the details of its fur.

Since the Ecomuseum keep the feeding schedule semi-random to mimic natural behaviours, we had the privilege of witnessing the otter mealtime. Since our little friend was far below the viewing platform, all I could see was a top down view and couldn't get a shot at eye level.

After seeing this cute interaction, we came back for the arctic foxes where we found them camouflaged with their white fur, sleeping in different sections of their habitat. I accidentally woke up one of them by being too close and realized that they have sharp hearing as it heard my camera shutter. I'll take that as a learning experience to become more mindful of the noises I make with my gear.

At this point, we neared the end of the outdoor sections and we could almost hear a baby stomach grumbling and see my hands turning blue. So we took the path back to our starting point. Once in the building, we took the time to warm ourselves and feed the baby. We then headed downstairs for the last part of our adventure to meet the reptiles and the fish. From small frogs to cute little green snakes, we found quite a few interesting creatures that are normally found around lakes and swamp areas in Quebec.

This is where, by chance, I clicked at the right time to capture this turtle swimming towards us with what I can only call bad intentions, having the most evil grin I could've imagined. I just love this picture, an encounter that reminds us that the perfect shot is often just luck and finding the best things in places you did not expect. And, just look at that smile.

A relaxing walk outside on this sunny day was exactly what we needed. Winter blues have a way of sneaking up on us, but stepping out and soaking up the sun is the best way to refresh both body and mind. This was a great adventure to heal our minds, but also to refine a craft that thrives on patience and missed opportunities. And yet, it brings me joy to simply practice it even when I return empty handed.

Thanks for walking with me. Now, grab that camera, head out for your own adventure, let me know where you've been. I'll see you in the great outdoors.