A Walk on the Wildside

Imagine, for a moment, the stillness of a cool morning. The sun begins to crest the horizon in a display of enchanting color, the hope of a fresh start promising, and near. Nature around you rises to the occasion of a new day, awakening as sunlight begins to unfold.

Not many of us take the moment to slow down and appreciate all that nature has to offer. When was the last time you took your coffee outside to enjoy a sunrise, if only for a few moments? Or, perhaps you’re a night owl, preferring to watch the day’s end with a sunset and good book.

Nature, however, has a calming effect on the human mind, and emotional center. Consider many of our electronic devices, which emulate the sounds of nature to calm nervous babies through sound-machines; apps on our phones, which engage us with quiet moments of peace through offering an array of outdoors noise.

If you’re fortunate enough to appreciate the soothing effect that the outdoor world has to offer, you’d agree that not only does nature hold new and exciting opportunities for adventure, but it also is beneficial for those who struggle with medical complications and emotional trauma.

John Schaefers figured it out. And, he’s putting his discovery out there for others, in hope to make the world a better, more peaceful, place.

John  Schaefers

John Schaefers, despite a cold that has “long overstayed its welcome,” is laid-back and upbeat when he shakes your hand in an introductory greeting. Under his arm is a thin portfolio and an even thinner, sleek book, which is the object of his discussion this Tuesday afternoon.

A Wright County local for many, many years, John has been honing his skill of photography for almost 63 years. While he may not be accredited from any college or university for his talent, a life of dedication, study, hard-work, and patience has paid off – John’s photography is unique, genuine, and authentic.

“I began taking pictures when I was eight years old,” he shared. “My expertise is in wildlife photography. It has always been something I’ve loved doing.”

While having taken occasional classes to keep in touch with his skill, John has fine-tuned his talent by studying leading titles in professional, wildlife photography. He has spent extensive time reading National Geographic, particularly studying the photographs of animals, and nature.

John really began with the intent for his photography to capture animals in their natural habitat, since he has a conservational heart. With so much of the modern world stepping on scene into the lives of animals and “the wild,” he feels, on a personal level, that capturing animals in an undisturbed, natural place is genuine, and provides a focus on “real nature.”

“You are in the wild when you step into a place that hasn’t been touched by people,” he explained. “I spend an extended period of time in one place, trying to acclimate myself into that environment, to be as much a part of a natural habitat as I can.”

To be successful in on-site shoots, John has been very particular about the preparation. He extensively studies habitats, nature, and the type of animal he desires to capture. By learning its habits, its hunting pattern, preferred domain, and behaviors, he can ensure a photograph is as natural as it can be, with humanity present on the “frontlines” of an animal’s day-to-day routine.

“To get the optimum shot of any animal, you must know how they live and what they do as much as possible,” John shared. “It sometimes requires a great deal of research, but that is part of the process. You then realize how real and exceptional the shot is when you see it, because you realize how difficult the circumstances may be. It is exceptionally rewarding.”

For instance, it took John a decade to capture the perfect picture of Minnesota’s state bird, the loon, simply because he knew exactly the setting that he wished to capture the bird in. Hundreds of pictures and thousands of hours went into photographing one species of bird, just to get the right shot – and, get it he did. That’s where the reward comes from.

“When I shot the photo of the loons and finally got what I wanted, there’s a profound sense of pleasure and reward you feel. This takes a lot of patience, and the ability to slow down and focus.”

John estimates that over his 60-some odd years in photography, he’s accumulated well over one million photos.

That being said, John considered the world around him – not the wild, but the “iron jungle” in which humanity has built for us.

The Mission

It’s no secret that the world we live in is a harsh one. Given the daily incidents that lean towards traumatic that occur across the globe, there are many, many people who suffer with emotional disorders on a frequent basis. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or “PTSD” has been on the rise in veterans since even before the Vietnam conflict, and there are countless other instances in our world which harm the peace and prosperity of humanity.

John realized this, and was challenged to battle these conflicting, carnal emotions the only way he knew how: through photography.

“You see these traumatic things in the world that are truly carnal,” John said. “And, it’s not just the one instance that makes people anxious or gives them these symptoms. Sometimes, they experience daily pain or horror through triggers, be it nightmares, memories, or what have you. Sometimes, you just need something external to calm you down – sometimes you just need something tangible.”

That’s when John decided to create a photobook with his wildlife pictures. Wildside Photos, the name of John’s trade, began to focus on creating a book that would be a tangible “escape” from reality for those struggling with emotional trauma, and would allow them to calm themselves down by focusing on serene and comforting pictures, in the comfort of their own home.

“Most people can’t just walk outside and look at a waterfall or witness a bird floating across the air,” John explained. “My study has really allowed me to capture some of the most peaceful, majestic things nature has to offer, and I believe that by making them accessible to people, they’ll really open opportunities to soothe those who struggle with these emotional challenges.”

The photobook consists of 70 images, which are full, high-quality bound pages, plus images on the front and back cover. So, really, 72 images total, which is a number that John really put much time and thought into before creating his book.

“Attention span and how long people can sit in a meaningful and engaged manner really factored into the book’s length,” he commented. “I also really thought about this on a global, multi-cultural way, so the book has no words. It can be enjoyed around the world without any lingual barriers at all.”

John really wanted to address the issue that people face while living with PTSD or other emotional challenges. People struggling with bullies, internal conflicts, memory triggers, depression, and other disorders are really his target audience.

“The hope is that people can go to this book and look at these pictures, which in many cases, haven’t been photographed or mass-produced, and calm these mental skirmishes. I wanted this to be a ‘mental escape’ from reality. You can get relief even when struggling with these things; I want to change the process of wrongful thoughts. Hopefully, when people feel these challenges or their pain coming on or surfacing, they can quell that process with the photobook.”

Reaching Out

John’s vision, and the undertaking, hasn’t been easy. A lifetime of capturing his intense, unique, and majestic photographs has required time, dedication, and in many cases, sacrifice. Wildside Photos has taken John into some challenging circumstances, and really pushed him to grow as not only a photographing artist, but a person as well.

Talking to other news outlets and media representatives is only the beginning for John. His website, www.wildside.photos is an online presence, created to bring awareness and help others through their difficulties, though he feels the book is a more tangible approach that is long-term, and can be enjoyed by everyone, anywhere, regardless of a “connection” status.

John also spoke about use of the photobook in organizations, such as hospitals, police stations, etc. “These are people who deal with traumatic occurrences on a daily basis,” he explained. “I truly believe that if we want to combat recurring trauma that plagues people, we need to give them something to help in the beginning stages of that.”

John’s photobooks can be bought in bulk or on their own, and he also has other resources available for purchase, such as PDF documents, wall décor, and others. His information can be found online at www.wildside.photos. To contact him, he best responds in the comment section of his website, which can be accessed by choosing a gallery to view.