Beyond The Lens (Nature)

Welcome to the official nature journal of Zack Clothier. Here, you’ll find stories from the field, insights into camera trapping, notes on photography gear, and reflections from time spent in the backcountry—alongside newly released prints and a collection of photography-focused articles.

Categories:

Camera Trapping Grizzly Bears in Montana — Camera Trapping Grizzly Bears in Montana

April 23, 2026

Ever since capturing my internationally award-winning print Grizzly Remains, I’ve been drawn back to a single question: what else is possible with these formidable animals? This year, I set out to explore that question by deploying a series of DSLR camera traps in the wilds of Montana, hoping to capture grizzly bears on their own terms, far from roads and human presence...

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Mountain Lion vs Mule Deer: A Rare Predator-Prey Encounter — Mountain Lion vs Mule Deer: A Rare Predator-Prey Encounter

December 22, 2025

A once-in-a-lifetime predator-prey moment captured in Montana
I spend a lot of time in wild places, but nothing could have prepared me for what unfolded on that cold October evening in western Montana...

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2024: A Year Of Nature — 2024: A Year Of Nature

January 1, 2025

From flying helicopters in the icy heart of winter in Alaska, to remote camera trapping in the mountains of Montana, I continued to push the boundaries of what is possible with a camera—capturing our natural world as you’ve never seen it before! The photographs that you see here, in order of when they were captured, represent what I consider to be my finest work from 2024...

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My Best Photographs Of 2023 Part I: America The Beautiful — My Best Photographs Of 2023 Part I: America The Beautiful

January 1, 2024

Another year has come to a close, and how fast it has gone. It seems like it was just yesterday when I was immersed in these incredible landscapes. In a world where AI "photos" are becoming the “norm” on the web, I find solace in knowing that I can still create these works of art in the field, in nature, not behind a computer using software to artificially generate a scene...

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My Best Nature Photographs from 2022 — My Best Nature Photographs from 2022

January 1, 2023

In 2022, I continued to expand my DSLR camera trapping efforts in Montana. Specifically, I wanted to capture a collection of fine art photographs of wildlife within the larger landscape. I wanted to show where these animals live. I spent a lot of time studying maps, searching for locations that coincided with what I had in mind. Once I located these areas on a map, it was time to lace up my boots and go explore these areas on foot.

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My Best Nature Photographs from 2021 — My Best Nature Photographs from 2021

January 1, 2022

A naturalist at heart, I've always been intrigued by wild animals. The ability to not only adapt, but to survive in nature is truly remarkable. As far back as I can remember, one of my favorite past times has been tracking animals. Truth be told, it was tracking that led me down this path of pursuing a career in nature photography.

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