Did you know that some animal species exhibit complex emotional and social behaviors? For instance, elephants are known to mourn their dead, and dolphins use unique whistles as names.
To learn more about animals and their habitats, photographers Tom and Edith Nicholson—originally from Canada and now based in the U.S.—travel to some of the world’s most remote and exotic locations. There, they explore the wilderness and document their experiences through captivating photography, a selection of which we’re excited to share with you today. As the couple writes on their website: “We strive to capture the soul of the animals that we photograph, allowing us to advocate for wildlife conservation through our lenses.” What makes their journey even more remarkable is that the Nicholsons don’t explore alone. “We believe in sharing the beauty of nature through our photography. We are also raising the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts as our two young children travel with us on our adventures.”
If you’d like to learn more about the photographers and their expeditions—and take a closer look at some of their most stunning images—just keep scrolling.
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Bored Panda reached out to Tom to ask him a few questions about his work. To start, he shared how he and his wife first developed a passion for wildlife photography: “Our first real experience with wildlife photography came during a safari in 2013. At the time, it was part of a bigger goal we had to visit every continent before turning 40 (we’re still working on Antarctica!). What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure quickly turned into something much more, sparking a passion that has led to regular returns to East Africa, as well as trips to places like India and the Pantanal in Brazil.”
The photographer continued: “That first safari opened our eyes to the incredible beauty, drama, and challenge of photographing wildlife — and after that, we were hooked. Trying to capture even a glimpse of the raw, untamed moments of these animals’ lives felt both thrilling and deeply meaningful. In the years since, wildlife photography has become a major focus for us. It's a privilege to spend even a brief moment in the world of these animals, and to share their stories with others who might not otherwise get the chance to experience the wild up close.”
When asked about the most heartwarming interaction they had witnessed between animals during their expeditions, Tom responded: “Two moments come to mind. The first happened during our first trip to Kenya. We were in the Maasai Mara, searching for a specific leopard. As we drove through her territory, we rounded a corner and spotted a mother giraffe standing with her newborn calf, who was just a few days old and still had its umbilical cord. They were completely alone on the open savannah. We stopped and watched as the mother gently interacted with her baby, the two of them completely ignoring us. It was a quiet, heartwarming moment — but also rather tense. Our guide told us that the leopard we were looking for wouldn’t hesitate to go after such a young calf if she was nearby. Fortunately, after a little while, the giraffes moved off across the plains, safe for another day.”
The photographer then shared another memorable moment from a trek to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda: “The family group we visited was full of energy, especially the younger gorillas. At one point, a young gorilla came running toward us. He gave a woman who was seated in front of us a quick tap on the head, then ran past and gave me a playful punch on the thigh! After a few more steps, he turned to glance back at us, almost as if he was hoping someone might come play with him.”
He concluded by adding: “Even though these two experiences were very different, they both left a lasting impression — reminding us of the connections we share with the natural world, and how important those moments can be.”
Next, we were curious about the species or locations left on Tom and Edith’s bucket list. They shared that, in fact, there are two species they would still love to encounter and photograph: “The first is the caracal — a beautiful little cat with amazing long ear tufts. We’ve had a few close calls, but they’ve managed to stay just out of sight. The other is the African wild dog. One safari, we specifically chose to go to Laikipia, Kenya, hoping to find them — but they moved out of the area the night before we arrived. We consider that part of the adventure, though. The animals we miss just give us an excuse to keep going back.”
The couple kindly shared some words of wisdom for aspiring wildlife photographers hoping to make a meaningful impact with their work: “One piece of advice we’d give is to not only focus on getting the perfect, close-up portrait. Those shots can certainly be beautiful, but they’re also quite common — and they often miss what makes wildlife truly special.
“The photos that really touch people are the ones that tell a story: a mother comforting her newborn, rivals battling for dominance, or a wider shot of an animal in its environment. These are the moments that reveal character, emotion, and the real beauty of wildlife.
“These shots can be challenging to capture, as you wait for all the elements to come together, and so you need lots of patience. You have to be willing to wait, to observe, and to let the story unfold in front of you. When it does, you’ll be able to create images that stand out, and that also inspire others to care about the natural world as much as you do.”
To wrap things up on a fun note, we imagined a hypothetical scenario—borrowing a skill or sense from any animal to enhance one’s photography. Here’s what the couple said they’d choose if given the chance: “We’d choose the cheetah’s incredible speed. Wildlife photography often requires quick reflexes, after long periods of inaction, to capture the fleeting, unpredictable moments that are most special, and the cheetah’s ability to sprint at incredible speeds would allow us to stay right in the action and never miss a shot. With that speed, we could anticipate the split-second interactions that make wildlife photography so thrilling, ensuring we’re always in the right place at the right time.”
