Michel d'Oultremont

Photography, insists Canon Ambassador Michel d'Oultremont, is secondary to wildlife – his first passion. And yet his images have a mastery of light that somehow elevates them. They are works of art, not just records of animal encounters.

Deploying a variety of creative techniques – low contrast, a limited colour palette, shallow depth of field, minimalist composition – Michel's distinctive, fairytale-like shots seem to show creatures materialising from the mist, strange and majestic. His aim is "to make people love nature, to question themselves about nature and to look at it differently, perhaps with more respect".

Working independently, Michel doesn't take on assignments for clients but instead carries out self-initiated projects and leads workshops. It's an approach that suits his temperament. "I decide everything by myself," he says. "I go where I want and I photograph what I want, when I want. I sell my images to art galleries, collectors or in stores. Thanks to this I'm completely free, and that's great."

For his book Yellowstone, Michel spent a month documenting the bison, wolves and other fauna of North America's Yellowstone National Park in ice-cold temperatures of -40°C. Hokkaido saw him travel to northern Japan in winter to photograph birds including the elusive Japanese crane and Steller's sea eagle.

Whether photographing miles from home or witnessing the changing seasons in the Belgian countryside, it's the promise of meeting a new animal that spurs Michel on. "To create an image that is successful takes a lot of time; sometimes weeks spent in the field scouting, finding the right place with the right light, and then waiting for the magic moment to arrive," he says. "But I'm so happy when that happens, I forget all those hours of waiting. That little moment when I find the animal I'm hoping for is thrilling. I feel good in nature, in my rightful place."

Do you look to art forms beyond photography for inspiration?

"Yes, I do. I would even say that I look at very few photographic images. Painting inspires me far more – J.M.W. Turner or Vincent van Gogh, for example. I also love watercolours for their softness, or sculpture and bronzes for the fabulous work of the material. I have tried to draw but I am very bad, so it's thanks to photography that I manage to transcribe what I have in mind."


How important is patience in getting the perfect shot?

"Knowledge of the animal is very important so that you don't disturb it. It is essential not to frighten the animals and I'm very careful about that. Patience is also important. You don't know the time or the place of your encounter with wildlife. In order not to miss it, you have to wait all day."


What do you need from your Canon kit in the environments where you work?

"I am often in difficult conditions when I create my images – snowstorms, sandstorms, lying in mud or frost – so it's important that the kit stands up to my demands. The robustness of the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is a real asset."


You've had great success already, but what dreams would you like to fulfil in future?

"To keep meeting wildlife. I tried to see the Siberian tiger in 2019 but I only saw its footprints. I'm fascinated by the Andean cat too, and the puma. They are rare animals, which are not often photographed and that live in wonderful biotopes – an ideal recipe for experiencing exceptional emotions and making beautiful images."

Michel d'Oultremont