In our regular, weekly (at least mostly weekly) interview series "SmugMug Corner," we get a chance to learn about a variety of interesting and accomplished photographers from around the world (in addition to checking out a bunch of their favorite photographs). This week is no different. Meet Shane McDermott.

Name: Shane McDermott
Website: www.wildearthilluminations.com

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Shane McDermott, I have 44 years of life experience. Being Canadian, the last 7 years have been spent living in Flagstaff, Arizona. A job - what’s that? I haven’t had one of those since I was 19! For the last 25 years I have been both fortunate and blessed enough that I have been paid well to pursue my life’s highest callings and passions. For this I am truly grateful.

Still to this day I have a busy and successful private Holistic Health Practice that centers around Yoga therapy, Orthopedic restorative movement and bodywork. I have recently started a professional nature photography business as well. Between these two businesses, 16 hour days are the norm... good thing I don’t consider it to be WORK.

What is your background/training in photography?

I have no formal training in photography, and have been photographing for just over 4 years. An intense intrigue with nature (particularly wildlife) has driven my need to artistically express my perceptions of the nature world. When I was really young this manifested through the art of drawing... now it is through digital photography.

Other old time photographers are often amused and a little shocked when they find out I don’t even know how to put a roll of film in a camera. To say that I have completely embraced digital photography would be an enormous understatement!

How long has photography been a passion for you? When, where and how did it start?

Four years. Well it actually started with a trip to Africa for a friends wedding in 2001. I purchased a now prehistoric digital point and shoot to capture a few memorable snapshots of the occasion. A wilderness safari was part of the wedding present, and turned out to be the greatest gift I ever received as well. That first “game drive” was totally transformative; I was hooked on photography immediately! Unfortunately, due to other more important life commitments and circumstances, I never really picked up a camera again until 2004... since then I have not stopped taking photos, and never will!

What equipment is in your camera bag [be specific]? What piece of equipment will be added to the collection next?

Well pursuing both wildlife and landscape photography makes for a whole lot of equipment, so the list reads something like this:

Camera Bodies

• Nikon D3 (FX - full frame sensor - 36 x 24mm size)
• Nikon D300 (DX senor, 23.6 x 15.8mm; Effective Pixels: 12.3 million

Lens Optics

• Nikon 200-400 f4 VR
• Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR VR
• Nikon 18-200 3.5-5.6 DX VR
• Nikon 17-35 f2,8 AFS - FX lens,
• Nikon 24-70 f2,8 AFS - FX lens,
• Nikon 1.4x & 1.7x teleconverters
• Lens Filters 2,3,4 stop soft & hard Singh Ray filters
• Singh Ray filters - Vari ND Adjustable from 2-8 stops
• Singh Ray filters - 5 Stop Slow motion ND filter
• Singh Ray filters - LB Color Combo Polorizer

Nikon Speed Lights

• Nikon SB 800/SB 600/ SD8a

Additional Gear

• MB -D10 - vertical grip release for Nikon D300 - Allows the D300 to shoot at 8fps
• Lexar CF cards - (4)4GB, (4)8GB Professional Digital Film Cards

Tripod & Head System

• Gitzo 1348 - Light weight carbon fiber tripod
• Gitzo 1550T - Compact carbon fiber tripod used for remote back country excursions
• Wimberley Gimbal Head II - Arca Swiss quick release head used exclusively for wildlife photography
• Really Right Stuff BH-40 tripod head -Mid sized tripod head (primary landscape head
• Really Right Stuff BH-25 tripod head -Compact tripod head
• Really Right Stuff - Precision Panorama Package

That’s pretty much it for the main gear I use regularly. What is on my wish list:

• Nikon 600 f4 AFS VR (Primary Bird lens)
• Nikon 80-400 4.5-5.6 VR (hand held flight lens)
• Nikon PC-E 24mm 3.5 (tilt & Shift, for landscapes)
• Nikon D3X?

What are your favorite places/subjects to photograph? Why?

Easy answer - all of nature and any critter that lives in it! Specifically - South west deserts have really captivated my attention. I love Africa, can’t seem to get enough of it, maybe one day I’ll move there??? I also love the stunning beauty and graceful poise of birds, especially in flight. Technically they are a real challenge to photograph, so when I get it right, it is a total thrill.

The amazing thing about wildlife photography in general, is that under normal circumstances we are never able to get physically close enough to most critters to truly appreciate their beauty, (color, fur detail, feather plumes, eyes etc.). But with great wildlife photography we see them all, in all their radiant glory! Truly astonishing!

Who are your biggest photographic influences? Why? What about their work influences your work?

Photography in general is a strong influence, I look at a lot of other peoples work, continually. There are so many highly creative individuals with camera in hand. Who stands out? Steven Bloom, Frans Lanting, Art Wolfe, Galen Rowell, Marc Adamus, Nick Brandt and on and on and on. The ones I mentioned however are the ones work I check out regularly.

Why?

• Steve Bloom for one who captures such fleeting moments of wildlife.
• Frans Lanting’s ability to tell profound stories through his images.
• Art Wolfe for his diversity of astounding captures.
• Galen Rowell for his pioneering artistry of nature photography
• Marc Adamus as a committed visionary capable of showing us where photography is headed. And a great guy!
• Nick Brandt for being a painter with a camera, awesome stuff!

How long have you been Smug with your photographs? What features do you most enjoy with your SmugMug account?

I have been with SmugMug for 2 years. What do I enjoy most? The people involved, Don & Chris MacAskill, Barb, Andy, Allen and many others who have been so supportive, patient, complimentary and unbelievably helpful from day one.

I have yet to meet any of these people in person, but I feel like they form my photography family. I still feel so new to photography and to be honest, the praise and feedback I have received from many of the folks at SmugMug regarding my photography has been a huge inspiration!

Oh and by the way the service and products they offer is second to none, their commitment and innovations for photographers is both rare and remarkable!

If you had do sum up in 50 words or less the impact SmugMug has made on your photography/photography business, those 50 words would be...

SmugMug has allowed me to share my visions, concerns, inspirations and love for the natural world with anyone anywhere. But just as importantly, they introduced Shane, the visionary a artist of nature to the world. Deeply grateful, I am!

If you had to give one piece of advice to those wanting to pursue photography, what would you tell them?

Straight up, there is a huge learning curve involved in learning the artistry of digital photography. If the desire is to do it well, one will need to be extremely patient, and committed. I feel it is unrealistic expectations that cause many people to give up with photography, most expect to be able to get great images with almost no practice or refinement of the way they currently see.

It is often suggested that great pictures are immediately possible with digital technologies, such is not the case. Just because one purchases an expensive camera, don’t expect great pictures. It will always come down to practiced and patient brilliance of the one who looks through the view finder.

If photography is something that moves you and stirs an inner calling, then step aside and allow your soul to reveal it’s creative splendor. Ask for the deep well spring of creativity and inspiration within to show you a new way of seeing, of perceiving, and of participating in the world - then slowly share these visions with others.

Ultimately, if you have the courage and desire to look out at the world - as it truly is,... this will shape you, and change you. In turn your visions will again shape the world around you. Ask yourself, what are the deepest yearnings and creations you would like to bring to the world - the art of photography can allow many of those to manifest.

Both courage and patience are essential to the pursuit of photography. You must be willing to acknowledge and wrestle with your inability of truly seeing what is there, concede your insufficiencies, clearly recognizing what it is you failed to see, and with relentless gusto, try again and again. Over time your ability to see will become so large and luminous your photographic visions will inspire all who gaze upon them.