Featured Photographer - Eric Stone

Wildlife photography is an act of trust between myself and another species. Nonhumans are likely aware of me before I notice them, so they grant me silent permission by remaining in the presence of my camera. These photographs are the honest depictions of animals who perform everyday rituals hidden or ignored by most people, perching, hunting for food, calling for a mate, playing. Their lives matter to them as much as my life matters to me. I use wider aperture settings to focus on one or a few individuals in vibrant yet softly lit backgrounds. Therefore, the subject is preferably relaxed and not moving away, so I don’t have to rely on rapid shutter speeds. The animal’s use of their habitat, even if human-made, is important to include because they are not just in the world but participating with it. Instagram: @ericthejavelina