Beyond The Lens (Wildlife)

Beyond The Lens is the official photography blog of Zack Clothier, featuring new work, photography news, print releases, exhibitions, and occasional behind-the-scenes looks at my creative process. You’ll also find photography-focused articles and resources covering the tools, techniques, and ideas that shape my work.

For deeper stories from the field, wildlife encounters, adventures, camera-trapping projects, and the experiences behind the photographs, visit The Wild Journal — my ongoing publication exploring the wild places, animals, and experiences that continue to inspire my work.

Categories:
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...

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...

My Best Photographs of 2023 Part II: America The Wild
January 15, 2024

Part II of my “Best Of” blog piece focuses on my most memorable wildlife encounters of 2023. I’m fortunate here in Montana to not have to travel very far to photograph a wide variety of wildlife species...

Revealing the Secret Lives of Wild Animals through Remote Camera Trap Photography
March 27, 2023

Nature and wildlife have always been an integral part of my life. Whenever I am photographing wild animals, I am always trying to capture them in a unique and inspiring way. I want the viewer to feel an emotional connection to the animal, just as though they were standing right there when the photograph was being made. One thing that has always fascinated me are the rare and elusive animals that exist in the world but are rarely observed in the wild.

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.

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.

2021 International Wildlife Photographer of the Year!
Oct 12, 2021

I am pleased to announce that this photograph took 1st place in the “Animals In Their Environments” category in the coveted international Wildlife Photographer Of The Year competition!