It’s sad to say, but summer is almost over. Each morning is growing progressively cooler, and a distinct smell is whirling across New England. It’s the smell of autumn, and soon, like our animal friends in the wild, Seacoast residents will hibernate through the long, cold winter.

Before that happens, the Hills Gallery in Newburyport, Mass. is offering one last chance to see the wildlife that many people spend their summers seeking. From Aug. 30 through Sept. 5, the Newburyport Art Association will host an exhibit of wildlife photographs taken by Richard Seeley.

Seeley was born and raised in New England and now lives in Gloucester, Mass. Many of his images depict wildlife in and around Cape Ann, although other pictures in the upcoming show were taken in Wyoming and Colorado, where Seeley spends each winter. His images of egrets, herons, red and black foxes, ospreys, eagles, loons, elk and wolves reveal the intimate lives of these wild creatures. The “Holy Grail,” according to Seeley, is capturing the behavior of a wild animal within the backdrop of a beautiful landscape. 

Formerly a business development manager for a software company, Seeley retired in January. Since then, he has been able to focus on photography fulltime. “I would call myself a professional photographer now,” he said.
Seeley’s foray into professional photography began in 2003, when he purchased a digital camera. “With digital, my world changed. It allowed me to enter a different orbit in my artistic rendering,” he said. With the new technology, Seeley started shooting scenic images of Cape Ann’s landscape, but he soon wanted more of a challenge. Wildlife photography was the cure.
A well-composed photograph of wild animals can have a profound effect on people. Most humans are awed by the intimate lives of their animal counterparts. Seeley started photographing animals for “the challenge of being able to capture an event that evokes an emotional response in the viewer,” he said. But capturing that event is a significant challenge.

Understanding an animal’s behavior is the first step toward recording it on film. “You really have to become a naturalist. I’ve spent a lot of time on the Internet researching the behavior of these subjects,” Seeley said. Once the photographer knows where and when to find an animal, the next challenge is getting close enough to take a clear picture without scaring it away. This takes patience and the right equipment. Seeley uses a 500-millimeter lens, which allowed him to capture a heron rookery in Boxford, for example, where it is difficult to get closer than 100 yards.

Up-to-date technology, such as the high-powered lens, is essential for professional photographers, according to Seeley. Along with his eight-mega-pixel SLR digital camera, he often uses Photoshop to touch up his images. Seeley says his periodic reliance on this software does not imperil the authenticity of the image. “You can make a good image better, but you can’t make a bad image good,” he said. 

Seeley recalled a particularly challenging photography trip to Lake Umbagog in Errol, N.H. He had to paddle a canoe for an hour and a half to reach an island where several eagles had taken residence. Another tough photo opportunity led to a picture entitled “Marsh in the Morning.” Seeley waited an entire week and took an exhausting number of pictures before being getting the shot he wanted. His patience was rewarded. “Marsh in the Morning” received “Best in Show” at the Newburyport Art Association Annual Photography and Sculpture Show, “Your Best Shot” in Popular Photography Magazine and the “Excellence in Photography” award at the Rockport Art Association.

For Seeley, New England is fertile ground for good photographs. The lush flora and diverse fauna provide ample subject matter. “The colors of New England are amazing. The fall foliage as a setting for wildlife is amazing. Plus, I was born and raised in this area and it’s always an exciting challenge,” the photographer said. 

Seeley also likes to practice photography out west. “Yellowstone National Park is a wildlife photographer’s fantasyland,” he said. Many of the wolf photographs that will be featured at the Hills Gallery were taken during a trip to Yellowstone last May. Rocky Mountain National Park is also a hotspot for wildlife photography, he said.

Seeley’s work can be found in galleries in New England and Colorado. He is looking forward to the Newburyport show. “It’s the first opportunity to showcase all my wildlife shots,” he said.

The Hills Gallery is located at 65 Water St., Newburyport, Mass. For more information, call 978-465-8769.