Wolfe follows in the footsteps UW grads Dale Chihuly, Imogen Cunningham, and Chuck Close
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, USA, MAY 30, 2024 — Art Wolfe is a long-time leader in the conservation photography movement and a prolific, restlessly creative nature and fine art photographer. In 1975 Wolfe graduated from University of Washington (UW) with degrees in Fine Arts and Arts Education.
Seattle born and based, Art Wolfe grew up in a family of commercial artists who encouraged his creativity and a connection to nature. For nearly fifty years he has stunned and thrilled readers with the dazzling beauty of the planet’s wildlife, landscapes, and diverse cultures. His goal is to win support for conservation issues by “focusing on what is beautiful on the Earth.”
Wolfe has published over 100 books in eight languages. Though Wolfe, 72, has often been described as a wildlife photographer—his most recent book being the astonishing Wild Lives—he tackles themes that take him beyond the subject of nature. In his book Human Canvas, he placed painted human figures against elaborate painted backdrops to transform bodies into abstract landscapes and he is working on a book of world faiths. He has hosted several television series, including the award-winning Art’s Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge which was syndicated worldwide, has had traveling exhibitions, and regularly donates his photos to environmental organizations.
The Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a UW graduate and is presented annually by the UW and UW Alumni Association. It recognizes a legacy of achievement and service built over a lifetime.
The UW Awards of Excellence ceremony honoring Art Wolfe and other outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, students, and retirees will be held on campus at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts at 3:30 pm on Thursday, June 6th, 2024.
“It is in the wild places, where the edge of the earth meets the corners of the sky, the human spirit is fed.”
We are just over a week away from my WILD LIVES presentation in Raleigh, North Carolina! Books will be available for purchase, and I’ll be signing copies. More importantly, I’ll be taking a deep-dive into the stories and strategies behind a lifetime of wild life photography and international travel.
As someone who’s spent their life photographing wildlife around the globe, I feel I’m well-suited to comment on the changes I’ve seen in the flora and fauna of places I’ve revisited several times over the years; a list that continues to grow with each new trip. While I strongly advocate continuing to find ways to lessen mankind’s impact on the natural world, WILD LIVES seeks to present animal success stories.
As we continue our struggle to evaluate mankind’s impact on our environment, populations for many species are on the rise as they reconcile their co-existence with humans. It was my goal with WILD LIVES to celebrate these successes. The news isn’t all bad! Perhaps there are lessons we can take away from these animals that have weathered the storm of sharing our planet with a species that is capable of inhabiting nearly every environment on the planet.
We’ll have a limited supply of books on hand that I’ll be signing. I hope to see you in Raleigh on June 2nd!
When it comes to memory cards (and card readers), there are considerations to make beyond just the capacity. A larger card might not even be the best option in some cases. When it comes to the technobabble involved in what factors in to selecting the right equipment, I leave that up to my staff member Kyle, who’s now going to pass that information along to you! Everyone has different experiences, so please leave a comment below if you have any first-hand knowledge on the subject to pass along.
Which Brand Do I Choose?
Note – this is NOT a sponsored post; the brands listed here are simply what Art uses and trusts.
We’ve had a good experience sticking with the Sandisk Extreme Pro line of memory cards. This is a trusted and supported name, and your cards come with a code for recovery software in case you run into any issues. These cards are durable enough that we haven’t needed to use this feature often, but it did come in handy when an older card I had failed. I was able to use the code from one of the newer cards to run the software and recover photos. Your experience may vary, as recovering files once they are deleted is never guaranteed to work. Expect it wont, cheer if it does!
ProGrade Digital also makes very good cards, and excellent card readers. More on that later.
What Are the Common Types of Memory Cards?
Though I am approaching presenting information as it pertains to a Canon R5, the information is general enough to apply to many different camera brands and models. Check with your camera manufacturer’s documentation to get the specifics of which slots you have. If you don’t have your original documentation, it’s likely your manufacturer’s website has a manual to download.
The R5 and many other pro cameras generally contain two or more memory slots. The most common slots included are for CF Cards and SD Cards. Consumer cameras tend have a single SD slot, though in recent years with the size of photos increasing this is starting to change. Keep in mind that there are many different versions of both CF and SD cards. You’ll want to make sure you’re using the right one by referencing the documentation.
CF Cards
CF (Compact Flash) cards are the fastest cards available. If your camera accepts CF cards and you frequently shoot 4K video or in continuous mode, this is the option you’ll want to choose. They are generally more expensive than SD cards of equivalent size due to their greatly increased speed.
Current CF memory cards are called “CF-Express” or “CFE”. They come in three different “types” (A, B or C) which describe the physical dimensions of the card. Having the right type of card for your camera as well as the right card reader is mandatory – they are not interchangeable. If you’re purchasing a new camera, you’ll want to make sure it uses type B or C. Type A is slower technology, but is often the same or more cost-wise based on a limited supply. (If your current camera only supports type A, don’t fret! it’s still a viable and fast card type)
By far the biggest selling point of a CF-Express card is the speed, as CF cards are potentially up to five-times faster than an equivalent SD card. Check the read and write speed of any card you consider purchasing. 1700 MB/s read cards are fairly common, with 3400 MB/s being the latest premium card speed. Just keep in mind your speed is limited by other hardware considerations, most notably your camera’s buffer speed, the source you’re copying to, the cabling, and the card reader. It doesn’t make sense to splurge on the latest, fastest card only to find the performance is about the same due to hardware limits and diminishing returns.
SD (Secure Digital) cards are not as fast as CF cards, but are more available and less expensive. The exception would be the “latest and greatest” SD cards on the market. These can often be comparable in price to a CF card with an equivalent capacity, however they are still not as fast. The reason for the price equivalency comes down to the fact that consumer cameras generally use SD cards, whereas CF cards are commonly found in higher-end pro cameras.
SD cards currently come in three different formats: UHS-I, UHS-II and the most recent UHS-III. Once again, you’ll need to refer to your camera’s documentation but for the most part UHS-II is the standard, with UHS-I being much too slow for most modern cameras. UHS-III is the latest and speediest version, but also expensive and the option to use a CF-E card if possible is more attractive.
You’ll also find SD cards described as “SD”, “SDHC”, or “SDXC”. No reason to get too much into the weeds here – you want SDXC, unless your camera is old enough to not be compatible. SDXC cards are the only ones that will hold more than 32 gb of data, which is in my opinion the smallest card I’d ever want to use with a modern camera.
Card readers are another lengthy post in their own right, but I’ll keep it simple. You’ll want a card reader that reads CF and/or SD memory cards, depending on the cards your camera uses and that you choose to purchase. Simple! Lets take a very small step into the weeds though.
Brand
A good card reader can make a big difference. Art was struggling with some of the readers we tried off of Amazon until his good friend and colleague Sean Fitzgerald recommended the readers from ProGrade Digital. We purchased this card reader specific for CF-E type B cards, and he’s extremely happy with the performance. They also make a model that reads both CF-E and SD card types.
As far as technical considerations go, the biggest factor affecting the speed that you have control over when purchasing a reader is the USB version. 3.0, 3.2, and 4.0 are all viable. Anything less than 3.0 will have vastly diminished read and write speed.
Stand-alone CF-E card readers are generally faster than card readers that also read SD cards, so if the speed of copying from your card to your device is critical, it’s something to consider. Often in the field, Art is shooting thousands of photos, and needs to be able to copy them quickly if he wants to download them and re-use the card for more shots. In these cases, being able to copy quickly is critical, and this is why he uses a separate CF and SD card readers.
Final Considerations for Purchasing Memory Cards & Readers
Hopefully this has been somewhat helpful in understanding card types. Obviously there are other options out there and your camera is largely going to determine what you need. Just keep in mind that splurging for extra speed and/or capacity is an amazing luxury to have, but not always the best use of your funds if you’re on any kind of budget.
For example – a Canon R5 includes both an SD and a CF card slot. Instead of considering a 512 GB CF card, you might want to get a 256 GB CF and a 256 GB SD card – that way you have options to shoot and write the same photos to both cards and have a very secure backup so you don’t lose photos. If a card fails in the field, you also have the option to use the other one. You still have the same storage capacity but more flexibility. Some photographers configure their cameras to write the larger, slower-to-copy RAW files to the CF card while sending the smaller, faster JPGs to the SD card.
In the end, CF-E cards are superior as they are faster, usually have a higher capacity, and are more durable than SD cards. SD cards are more common in consumer cameras. It really comes down to what your camera is compatible with, how you use your camera, and your budget.
A while back I posted a scam alert regarding several impostor accounts on Facebook, pretending to be me. This is a serious issue, as several folks have been fooled by these imitators. Unfortunately it seems Facebook no longer employs actual human beings. Any attempt to contact them simply leads into a loophole of automated responses. Even with all of the evidence to back up my identity, only a small number of fake accounts have actually been closed. Nine times out of ten, we simply receive a response, no doubt automated as well, indicating that the content doesn’t violate Facebook’s policies.
As you can see in this image gallery, the vast majority of these accounts reference “Thomas Wolfe”. Unfortunately, as someone who spends time here or there in the public eye and photographs for a living, it’s not too difficult to find images of both myself and my work. it’s a truly vile feeling to see your photos and your face being used by some reprehensible con artist hoping to manipulate someone who might be a fan of mine.
If you see any of these fake accounts, please report them. Also please note, I never have conversations via any of my social media channels. If you’re talking to me privately on social – it’s not me!
If you’re not sure, my staff is available – just email us at info@artwolfe.com. We would love to hear from you if you’ve had a negative experience with an Art Wolfe scammer. If anyone knows how we reach an actual human being at Facebook – that would be fantastic!
Last night, the project to restore the creek at Schmitz Park here in West Seattle kicked off with the first meeting of the Schmitz Park Creek Restore group at my home. We presented our ideas for daylighting the creek and restoring the salmon run to this preserved natural area. Our goal is to reconnect the creek to Alki Beach, continue to protect 53 acres of old growth forest, and re-establish the natural cove at the mouth of the creek.
Though I travel often, West Seattle will always be home. It’s an exciting project, and I’m glad to be a part of it! Read more about the project on the West Seattle blog!
I recently had the pleasure of joining Richard Bernabe on his “Beyond the Lens” podcast to talk all things WILD LIVES. We discuss a number of topics, from the how and why of the book creation process to the important factors that my decades in the field have taught me about capturing impactful wildlife images. We covered a little bit of everything with my latest book as the jumping off point, so there’s bound to be something here for everyone.
Enjoy the podcast and be sure to subscribe to hear more of Richard’s interviews with prominent photographers and wildlife enthusiasts, and if you haven’t already order your copy of the standard or Collector’s Edition of WILD LIVES. There are also several WILD-centric tours and events coming up. Check and see if I’ll be near your city, or join me in the field!
HOPE by Cristina “Mitty” Mittermeier is an uplifting book project that I urge everyone to support. Mitty is a great communicator and unparalleled photographer. She has done so much for the photographic & conservation community with the founding of SeaLegacy and the International League of Conservation Photographers ILCP. Please join me in supporting Mitty’s crowdfunding campaign for ‘HOPE’ – a book showcasing her most iconic images and inspiring stories from her 30-year journey as a photographer and activist. Part of the proceeds of this book will directly benefit the people, communities and projects featured in these pages!
Earlier this month some good friends and myself visited Kyoto, Japan to photograph the culture and spiritual ceremonies for one of my next book projects, “Act of Faith”. Here, we had the opportunity to photograph Shinto priests and priestesses performing rituals at a sacred Shinto Shrine.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve visited Japan to capture photos for Faith. I was here a few years back to capture the Oto Matsuri purification ceremony. This trip was definitely more harmonious, without the fire and drunken shenanigans!
Shinto is Japan’s native faith, and though Buddhism nearly matches it in terms of practitioners, the way these two religions have managed to not only co-exist, but compliment one and other is just one of the many heartening aspects of world faith that will be highlighted in this upcoming project. Prominent Buddhist figures were assigned Shinto identities, while Shinto Kami, or the divine spirits that inhabit the natural world, strove for Buddhist enlightenment.
I’ve made many trips to Japan over the years, primarily to photograph the Snow macaques, cranes, and other wild life. However, the Japanese culture and reverence for nature has always fascinated me as illustrated in the way I’ve styled my West Seattle home environs as a Japanese Garden. I look forward to seeing this all come together in a celebration of world spirituality, and I highly recommend a visit to Kyoto!
Join legendary photographer Art Wolfe for a special presentation of his latest published masterpiece, WILD LIVES next Friday, April 26th from 6 – 9 pm. WILD LIVES is a celebration of the diverse creatures that inhabit the planet and features photos from virtually every continent. While conservation efforts remain critical to the survival of many species, WILD LIVES highlights the success stories of animals that have learned to coexist with encroaching human influence.
Author Greg Green will be on hand to discuss the shared premise of the project, and Art will present photos along with stories and insights from his observations in the field. With a deep fine art background, he will also highlight the creative decisions he made along the way to truly capture the lives of his furry, scaled, and feathered subjects.
Thanks to the College of the Environment and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni, this event is Free! Books will be available for purchase, with opportunities for signing before and after the presentation. We hope to see you there!
Hey there, nature and photography enthusiasts! I’m absolutely thrilled to share that I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with Matt Payne on the ‘F-Stop Collaborate and Listen’ podcast. We’ve taken a deep dive into my lifelong journey through the world of photography, discussing everything from the origins of my passion to the recent release of “Wild Lives”—a book that captures the essence of nature’s heartening resilience across the globe.
In our conversation, you’ll hear about the challenges and triumphs of my career, my travels to every corner of the planet, and the meticulous care that goes into each project, including my transformational TV series, ‘Travels to the Edge.’ I share my personal insights into the responsibility of being a source of inspiration while carefully navigating the line between innovation and emulation. Plus, I’m excited to open up about the strategic planning behind my shoots, the evolution of my projects, and the conservation efforts that I’m deeply passionate about.
As we chat about the pressing issues of legacy and environmental consciousness, I hope to ignite a flame in all of you to appreciate the beauty of our world and to remind everyone of the power of photography to tell stories that matter. Be sure to listen to this special episode of the podcast, and let’s continue to strive for a positive impact and a lasting footprint on both the art world and our precious planet. Let’s connect, share, and keep the conversation going on this amazing platform for photographers and listeners alike!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, USA, MAY 30, 2024 — Art Wolfe is a long-time leader in the conservation photography movement and a prolific, restlessly creative nature and fine art photographer. In 1975 Wolfe graduated from University of Washington (UW) with degrees in Fine Arts and Arts Education.
