Photographer gives ‘A Glimpse into Wild Westman’

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This article was published 24/03/2025 (362 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon area’s natural landscape took centre stage on Saturday as wildlife photographer Rustam Dow presented his work at the Brandon General Museum and Archives’ Show and Tell event.

The event, titled “A Glimpse Into Wild Westman,” showcased Dow’s striking photography of local wildlife, including black bears, eagles, moose, deer, and a variety of birds.

The presentation, held in the B.J. Hales Natural History Gallery, provided attendees with insight into Dow’s passion for capturing the beauty of nature, his favourite locations and the techniques he employs to get the perfect shot.

Dow, who has been engaged in wildlife photography for five years, shared how his lifelong appreciation for nature ultimately led him to the art form. Growing up in Ottawa, he spent much of his childhood camping, hiking, and fishing with his father and friends.

However, it was during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic that he turned to photography as a way to stay active while exploring the outdoors.

“I needed something to do,” Dow explained. “I combined my love for nature with photography, which allowed me to get outside and do something fulfilling despite the restrictions.”

His inspiration also stems from his father, who is both a painter and a photographer. “I got a lot of my knowledge and interest from him as well,” Dow said.

During the presentation, he highlighted the equipment necessary for capturing wildlife images with clarity and precision.

“It’s important to have a lens with a high focal length, at least 500 millimetres, so you can get close without scaring the animal away,” he told the Sun. “A high-resolution camera is also essential, allowing you to crop while maintaining detail.”

While he currently does not use drones, Dow expressed interest in exploring drone photography in the future, particularly for capturing animals such as polar bears from a safe distance.

Dow described how experience, research, and an understanding of wildlife behaviour guide his work.

“A lot of it is trial and error,” he said. “I also do a lot of reading and use online resources to track migratory patterns and active times.”

His advice for aspiring photographers? Spend time outdoors and learn through practice. “The more time you spend in nature, the better you understand wildlife habits,” he said.

The event drew about 15 photography enthusiasts from as far as Saskatchewan. Among them was Harvey Steves, a wildlife photographer from Cardiff, Saskatchewan, who attended to see Dow’s work firsthand.

“His images are really quite amazing,” Steves said. “Anyone can take a close-up picture of an animal at a zoo, but composing an image in the wild requires a great eye, and he has that.”

Steves, who has been photographing wildlife for nearly 50 years, was particularly impressed by the consistency and quality of Dow’s work.

“Every single photo was good. He knows his stuff, and you appreciate people who know their stuff,” he added.

Local landscape photographer Doug Derksen also attended the presentation and found himself inspired by Dow’s work.

“I do more landscape photography, but I keep bumping into wildlife and enjoy taking their pictures,” Derksen said. “Seeing Rustam’s incredible bird photography, particularly his shots of great grey owls, was inspiring.”

Reflecting on the event, Dow expressed satisfaction with the turnout and engagement.

“This was my first time talking about my photography in this kind of setting, and I was very pleased,” he said. “I hope people learned something and gained more appreciation for the local wildlife around us.”

The Show and Tell series, now in its third year, is designed to allow community members to share their knowledge and interests with others, much like the childhood classroom activity, museum administrator Keith Waterfield told the Sun.

“We’ve had a wonderful collection of people come and talk about their personal history or different aspects of Brandon’s history,” Waterfield said. “Rustam, with his great collection of wildlife photography from the surrounding area, was a perfect fit for our Show and Tell series.”

Waterfield explained some attendees simply appreciated the art of photography, even if they did not practise it themselves. “There was one fellow I was talking to who would have loved to get into photography 20 years ago, but he doesn’t have as much time now. He still loves seeing other people’s work.”

Waterfield said the turnout was encouraging given the colder weather, adding the museum opted not to host January or February presentations this year due to extreme temperatures.

“People just don’t want to leave their houses in the cold, and I can’t blame them,” he said. “But with the warmer months, we expect to see more attendees. We’ve had up to 40 people in the past.”

Looking ahead, Dow hopes to expand his efforts by sharing his knowledge with younger audiences.

“I wouldn’t mind going into schools and talking to youth about photography and nature,” he said. “Inspiring the next generation is definitely something I want to do next.”

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