As a researcher, Alan Toczydlowski studies forest soils, hydrology, and nutrient cycling in wet ecosystems. As an artist, he captures breathtaking photos of wildlife, plants, and landscapes that have won categories in the annual Boundary Waters Photo Contest, among others. Last summer, one of his photographs was also featured in the Fine Arts Building at the Minnesota State Fair, a highly competitive honor. Toczydlowski took a few minutes to share about his passion for photography and pointers for capturing great photos while out in the field.
When did you start taking an interest in photography?
I dabbled with a film camera as a teenager and then used a smartphone to take photos of nearly everything for years. In 2020 I borrowed a DSLR camera from my dad and started photographing birds around my neighborhood parks. It was a slippery slope from there as I mastered the technical skills and upgraded cameras and lens after lens.
What catches your eye – and why?
I am absolutely fascinated by animal behavior and photography provides the opportunity to create intimate relationships with animals. When I get into a photography blind [camouflaged structure] an hour before sunrise, or spend hours sitting quietly in the woods, the animals learn to trust me and go about their natural behavior as if they weren’t being observed. This allows me to witness and document things that most other people don’t have the chance to see. If I can show someone a photo and their reaction is “Wow I never knew…” then I feel I’ve taken one more step towards education and conservation of our environment.
I also love getting up close with mushrooms and insects that might otherwise get overlooked. There are so many beautiful patterns in the way a mushroom grows, or the colors of an insect, or frost on a fallen leaf. I try to capture the little things and make them larger than life.
What type of camera do you use?
I have owned several but my current camera is Nikon’s flagship mirrorless camera, the Z9. There are several lenses in my kit, but my favorites and most used are Nikon’s 500mm (f/5.6) prime lens for wildlife, a 105mm (f/2.8) macro lens for the little things, and a 14-24mm (f/2.8) wide angle zoom lens for landscapes and astrophotography.
Do you carry your camera everywhere you go, even when conducting research in the field?
My camera comes with me on every work trip and personal vacation. I commit to carrying about 25 pounds of camera gear into the Boundary Waters a couple times each summer and I take a couple photography-specific trips to Sax Zim Bog each winter to hunt for owls and other boreal species.
I sometimes carry my camera in the field depending on the type of work I’m doing. If there is a lot of time walking relative to the time spent collecting data, I tend to carry it. If I’m working in one place for most of the day, digging soil samples or working closely with other people, I don’t. I still take lots of photos with my iPhone, though.
What tips do you have for other researchers who want to take great photos?
I saw the biggest improvement in my photography when I learned to get a low perspective and shoot at eye level with wildlife, plants, and mushrooms. A low perspective gives the photo's subject a surreal, larger-than-life feeling. If you’re using a smartphone camera, hold the phone vertically and upside down so that the camera lens is just an inch or less above the ground.
Another thing that really makes photos stand out is to have a well-lit subject and a clean foreground and background. Pay attention to where the light is coming from and where your shadow is falling. Placing the sun behind you or over your shoulder is the easiest to work with. Then, look for distracting elements in the foreground and background. Is there a branch or blade of grass blocking part of the subject, or an unsightly tree or power pole in your background that you can avoid by changing your angle a little bit? The little details make a difference!
Keep up-to-date with Toczydlowski's on Instagram (@alanteleven) or visit his photography website.
