Deena Sveinsson is a renowned wildlife photographer based in Colorado, specializing in capturing the majestic beauty of moose and “all things bunny.” In 2022, her incredible talent earned her a spot in the Top 25 shortlist for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.<\/p>\n
Before dedicating her life to photography, Sveinsson worked as a commercial airline pilot. During her career, she frequently traveled with a camera in hand, casually dabbling in wildlife imagery. Once she left the aviation industry, she finally had the time to pursue her passion more seriously. Living near the breathtaking Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado made her transition into a full-time wildlife photographer feel completely natural.<\/p>\n
Among her many memorable experiences, Sveinsson recalls a time when she photographed three bull moose playing in the water. People often overlook the fact that animals possess distinct personalities and form deep bonds. Given that moose have a reputation for being aggressive and territorial, this unique shot showcased a softer side of the animals and went on to win numerous photography contests.<\/p>\n
However, wildlife photography is not without its frustrations. Sveinsson shares that photographing pikas\u2014cute, hamster-sized creatures living at high altitudes\u2014can be exceptionally difficult due to their speed and camouflage. Despite countless blurry shots, photographing them always brings laughter.<\/p>\n
She also recounts a heartbreaking moment when her camera shutter failed silently at the exact moment a large bull moose crossed a river, missing a shot she had anticipated for years. On a brighter note, a snowshoe hare she regularly photographed once led her up a steep mountain slope to reveal a new hiding spot, creating a deeply special connection.<\/p>\n
Capturing extraordinary wildlife moments often requires immense dedication and physical endurance. While photographing mountain hares boxing in northern Norway, Sveinsson and her husband spent five freezing nights in a drafty, uninsulated hide. After enduring the extreme cold, their patience paid off when two hares boxed in the exact right spot for just 1.5 seconds, allowing her to capture the winning shot.<\/p>\n
Another memorable encounter occurred in Grand Teton National Park, where a massive bull moose named Hoback decided to lick the salt off her fairly new car. The massive animal ended up leaving multiple scratch marks and plenty of moose drool all over the vehicle’s paintwork, making for an unforgettable story.<\/p>\n
When venturing into remote wilderness areas alone to ski, snowshoe, or hike without mobile phone coverage, Sveinsson relies on her Garmin InReach GPS and satellite phone combination to ensure she can contact emergency services if needed.<\/p>\n
Offering advice to aspiring photographers, Sveinsson emphasizes that focusing on animals you are truly passionate about allows you to dive deep into their worlds and personalities, ultimately helping you produce extraordinary images rather than ordinary ones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From Commercial Pilot to Wildlife Photographer Deena Sveinsson is a renowned wildlife photographer based in Colorado, specializing in capturing the majestic beauty of moose and “all things bunny.” In 2022, her incredible talent earned her a spot in the Top 25 shortlist for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award. Before dedicating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,13,33],"tags":[176,177,75,36,72],"class_list":["post-4291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-nature","category-wildlife","tag-deena-sveinsson","tag-moose","tag-nature-photography","tag-wildlife-conservation","tag-wildlife-photography"],"yoast_head":"\n