The Art of Science

Piet Hein Schuijff

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

📍 The Hague, Netherlands

Piet Hein Schuijff is a Dutch wildlife photographer whose work centers on birds, wildlife, and the beauty of the natural world. Through patient observation and ethical photography, he captures animals in their environments while emphasizing their behavior, individuality, and relationship with the landscapes they inhabit. His photography reflects a deep appreciation for nature and the importance of observing wildlife with curiosity, respect, and care.

THE INTERVIEW:

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background? How did you first become interested in wildlife photography?

My name is Piet Hein, I am a Dutch wildlife photographer. From a very young age, I was fascinated by the world around me. I grew up watching documentaries on nature and devouring every book about fish, birds, mammals and dinosaurs there was. As I aged, this obsession with nature never left me, but I oriented myself more towards birds. On every car ride, in every park and on every family holiday I was checking for birds, identifying new (to me) species and observing their behaviour. I always dreamt of recreating the photos from all the books I had read on birds, but never really did anything with this, due to a lack of knowledge and gear. When my father-in-law gifted me his old camera + telelens, a whole new world opened up for me. That was 3 years ago, and in that time I developed myself as a bird photographer.

You primarily photograph birds. What is it about birds in particular that fascinates you, and what keeps you coming back to them as subjects?

Birds are all around us, making it one of the most accessible species to observe. Their varieties fascinate me, from the tiny Hummingbird to the colossal Golden Eagle. I could spend days and days watching them sing, mate, forage or raise their young. I think no species inspired humankind more than birds. They are in our paintings, our poems, our literature. It might be because of their song, or it might be because they are one of the few species who can take off and soar through the sky. It might even be because we see a reflection of ourselves in these enchanting animals.

Wildlife photography often requires a deep understanding of animal behavior. How do you research and learn about a species before photographing it?

It helps that I have spent my entire childhood learning to recognize species and observing their behaviour. Usually I already have some fundamental knowledge of a species before I go out to shoot them, but on the occasions that I don’t, I read about them in one of my field guides. For a deeper understanding I usually look for some more information online to predict where they will be when I go out looking for them.

A Javan Kingfisher hunting crab in the rice fields of Bali.

Eastern Cattle Egret with a juvenile begging for food. Taken in an enormous colony in Petulu, Indonesia.

Could you walk us through the process of creating a wildlife photograph, from finding and observing your subject to capturing and selecting the final image?

The most important part of creating a photograph for me, is the environment. What part of the environment do I want to include in my shot? I always try to tell a story with my work. The environment tells a lot about a species. Where do they live? Where do they hunt, rest and feed their young? When I find a good spot, I usually go there a few days in a row. This way I can capture the birds displaying different types of behaviour, in different parts of the environment. During these days I usually take hundreds of photos, sometimes even thousands. When I got home, I divide them by behaviour and environment, and then I start choosing the best of each of those series. I then post these to Instagram, sometimes as single photos and sometimes as a carousel dedicated to a single species.

You describe your approach to wildlife photography as ethical. What does ethical wildlife photography mean to you, and what responsibilities do photographers have when interacting with wild animals?

Ethical wildlife photography means always putting the animal first. We are part of nature, not above it. Getting a good photo is never at the heart of my expeditions. Getting to observe an animal, undisturbed in their natural habitat is paramount to a pleasing experience. Too often I see people getting too close to nesting birds, playing the birdsong during breeding season, or just chasing rarities like they’re attractions in a zoo. In ethical wildlife photography, there is no room for that behaviour. I’m not saying you can never make a mistake, because I too have erred in the past, due to a lack of knowledge. The important thing is that you use those experiences to learn. Be mindful of the animal you’re observing. Do they seem tense? Have they stopped what they were doing? Simply back off. Most birds give you very clear signals that you are disturbing them. Always remember that we are part of nature, wildlife isn’t there to entertain us.

How do you balance documenting an animal accurately with creating a photograph that is visually compelling and tells a story?

To me these two things go hand in hand. I always try to edit my photos in a manner that mirrors the circumstances at the time of shooting. By accurately documenting an animal, I’m simultaneously creating a visually compelling story by applying different techniques to create an interesting composition.

Has photographing wildlife changed the way you personally understand or appreciate the natural world?

Absolutely. As a wildlife photographer, you’re constantly being confronted with the impact of climate change, deforestation and the overall loss of habitat. Species are slowly disappearing, or just going extinct. It is heartwrenching to see the harm that is done to our planet and wildlife for the sake of money. But there is a plus side. We, as wildlife photographers are growing to an enormous community worldwide. Every year our community grows, and with that a community of people who will fight for the conservation of our planet.

Spanish Imperial Eagle accompanied by a Raven.

A pheasant sprinting through a field of snow, without the benefit of his camouflage.

Why do you think photography is such a powerful tool for conservation and communicating science?

Because good photograph makes you feel something. I remember the first time I saw a photo of a baby orangutan sitting in a deforested area. The parents are killed, while the young are poached. The pure evil of that very act was perfectly captured in that image, an image that will always stay with me. Of course you can read about deforestation, poaching and illegal trade of animals, but seeing it happen can have a much bigger impact in my opinion.

Are there any photographers, scientists, conservationists, mentors, or experiences that have significantly influenced your work?

Steve Irwin will always remain one of my role models. I remember seeing an interview with him where he said he spoke of the topic of money. He said he couldn’t get enough money, so he could buy up land and protect the wilderness. He truly believed he was put on this earth to protect wildlife, which is such an enormous contrast with the way our species is behaving worldwide.

What advice would you give to students who are passionate about both science and art and are interested in exploring careers that combine the two?

My foremost piece of advice is to build a dual skillset. Make sure you have enough knowledge of both sides to be employed in either field. This way you can try to make it in the art scene, but you will always have something to fall back on. You can also look for a way to combine the two. Think of creating medical or biological illustrations, going into the field of creative data visualization. Lastly, you can always opt for a double career if you can’t manage to combine them. Work a few days a week in science, leaving the rest of the week to busy yourself with artistic work.