Evocative of a behind-the-scenes documentary, Cory Schaetzle’s wildlife photography captures the hidden essence of creatures that he commonly finds engaged in their everyday tasks, carried out with their majestic air and reassurance in a world of their own.
Stunning solidarity mixed with refreshing confidence, Schaetzle’s animals are ironically basking in domesticity as they brave the elements.
The composition of Schaetzle’s shots is quite varied for nature photography and akin to the nobility of portraiture work, albeit impossible given his subjects. While many frame the animal centrally, others boldly take up half the lens, leaving half a blank canvas of pondering.
Attending Bayport-Blue Point High School before transferring to St. Anthony’s and graduating in 1999, Schaetzle began his journey as a photographer in 2016, but after moving back to Long Island in 2021, became interested in landscape and wildlife shots from other local artists.
Wildlife has been his muse, because “I’ve always been a lover of nature… even on days I don’t have much success with getting good shots, it’s always nice being out there. With wildlife, going about my shots is mainly more luck than anything else. I do like to frequent certain areas that I know wildlife is around, but getting that shot is really all about luck, being I can’t tell them how or where to pose, but that adds a lot of excitement.”
An hour usually yields two to three notable pictures that Schaetzle said are difficult to come by, but “when you do get them, it’s that much more rewarding.”
With a Canon R6 and Tamron 150-600 lens, Schaetzle typically finds his subjects in the Nassau-Suffolk area, with Sayville’s San Souci being a favorite spot.
Enrolling in a photography mentorship program has opened the art form even more for Schaetzle, whose work is often featured in the class.
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