Photography News Issue 37

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

Interview Wolf Haven Get up close and persona with the wolves of Wolf Haven Sanctuary with An ie Marie Musselman

of the Asian animal trade, orangutans, chimps, etc. But upon receiving my grant I found out I was one month pregnant. I figured I could travel anyway, so I purchasedmy ticket and then went to the travel medicine clinic to get my vaccines. They said I shouldn’t travel there because of the malaria problem, being pregnant it could be fatal. So I sat down to my computer and started searching for a story closer to home. My current project focuses on the indicator or keystone species. The sanctuaries that rescue these animals are also helping to save the lives of countless other animals, flora and fauna that count on the keystone species to survive. I began photographing at an orangutan sanctuary called Nyaru Menteng in central Kalimantan, Borneo, this inspired me to start For The Innocent. I then found myself calling a sanctuary south of Seattle who rescued wolves. I was particularly drawn to them because of their captive breeding program for the highly endangered red and

Mexican grey wolves. It took some time, but after a few telephone calls and one interview, I was into my next project, about the wolves of Wolf Haven. What sort of challenges were involved in photographing the wolves? How close could you get? I did a little research about wolves in general, but not much. They are very beautiful attractive creatures and I was instantly enamoured.At first Iwasnervous,wolveshave a way of disarming you, I felt naked as if they could see through me. I felt as if I could hear them saying “I don’t want to be photographed, leave us alone”! But then my heart spoke and I heard them accepting me. It took a long time! I photographed them between 2010 and 2016 and I never lost hope. In the summer, I spent long days with Jesse James, a female grey wolf, and her partner, Shiloh. I sat on my dad’s old folding artist chair, surrounded by mossy trees, birds and

Interview by Jemma Dodd

Fine Marie Musselman loves photographing animals and typically captures images of animals in sanctuaries. Her new book Wolf Haven is a stunning collection of images of red and Mexican grey rescuewolves at theWolf Haven Sanctuary that lies south of Seattle, USA. We caught up with Annie to find out more. How did you come across the sanctuary and why did you decide to photograph these wolves in particular? In 2010 I received a Getty Images Grant For Good, (now called Getty Creative Grants). Getty awarded $15,000 to be shared by a photographer and an advertising agency to create new media, website, photos, promotional materials and a logo for a selected non-profit company. I had chosen a sanctuary in Sulawesi, Indonesia, which rescued victims art photographer Annie

At first I was nervous, wolves have a way of disarming you, I felt naked as if they could see through me Above Moss, a Mexican grey wolf (endangered) who is father to a litter of pups. Top right Friends and lovers Jesse James and Shiloh in their enclosure. They passed away within days of each other. Right Best friends Caedus and Ladyhawk, posturing at the fence for attention. Bottom right Lonnie and Meeka in the evening sun.