4 Element Photos
3726 Commercial Street V5N4G2 Vancouver, BC, Canada

"Dawn Buck"...This was such an amazing experience i had last week, right in the middle of the city! As I was photographing some birds for sunrise in a park in the middle of the city, I heard a branch snap, looked over and saw this beauty staring back at me, I was both shocked and amazed to lock eyes with this beautiful male Mule Deer...then he was gone, disappearing into the bush, so into the bush I went...slowly working my way through some heavy brush I come upon a secret gr...assy opening and see him, but he's not alone...I drop to the ground to observe and slowly the whole family comes out, 6 does, 2 young deer and another buck!! I laid there with them for over 2 hours, them completely aware of my presence, often coming right up to me to catch a sniff...I couldn't help but feel welcomed and accepted by these animals and literally in the middle of the city...I was able to lay there and observe intimate family behaviors I've never seen before and I'll not soon forget an experience as random and amazing as this one...(element: earth) See more

"Raven Love"...Raven pair preening each other's feathers as part of their courtship ritual...Ravens will mate for life and during their annual courtship, they will preen each other's feathers, caress beaks, speak and even sing to one another and offer small gifts which often includes moss, rocks and lichen...these are highly complex and truly fascinating animals...(element: air)

"Stickleback Snack"...Non-breeding (juvenile) male Hooded Merganser catching a tasty Stickleback snack...(element: water)

OVER $1K RAISED!!! I'd like to thank everyone who purchased a 2021 4 Element Photos calendar this year. Because of that, I have raised and now donated, $1015.00 to The Canid Project to support the red fox rehabilitation efforts undertaken by this amazing group I am very proud to be a part of. I still have just a few calendars left if you are still interested in one. Thanks to everyone for the support!... Shane.

Very excited to announce that through our collective auction, we have raised and donated $4100 to Nature Conservancy of Canada / Conservation de la nature Canada as part of the Canadian Conservation initiative!!!

"Swan Migration"...3 Trumpeter swans on their migration south for the winter...(element: air)

"Coho Reflected"...Had an awesome time swimming with these beautiful Coho Salmon this weekend...I have a real soft spot for Coho as I have spent the better part of my career studying these specific animals life histories, population dynamics and behaviors and no matter how long you study them, they always seem to amaze you...but I will say, in order to truly understand them, you have to observe them like this, in their own underwater world to really gain insight into their highly developed social behaviors...here specifically, these two males are in territorial maneuvers with each other at this redd (salmon nest) site, constantly posturing with each other to determine who gets to spawn with the female just outside of the frame...(element: water)

"Out of the Shadows"...Sometimes that light hits just right, this beautiful little Short-eared Owl flying through a small patch of sunlight on a mostly cloudy morning...(element: air)

Last Chance For Calendars! The first round of 4 Element Photos 2021 calendars have SOLD OUT, big thanks to all who have supported so far! I have had requests for a second run of calendars so I will be printing some more soon and I am trying to see how many people might still be interested. Calendars are $25 per or 5 for $100 with partial proceeds being donated an amazing group I am proud to be a part of, The Canid Project where these donations will go directly to the red... fox rehabilitation efforts undertaken by this group. So let me know if you are interested as this will be the final message. Thanks very much, Shane.

Hello everyone. I am auctioning off this print of "Peaceful Bandit" for charity! This is a "highest-bid-takes-it" auction to support the Canadian Conservation initiative (@canadianconservation on Instagram) I've recently formed along with some amazing and talented Canadian wildlife photographers. 100% of the proceeds from this sale are being donated to Nature Conservancy of Canada / Conservation de la nature Canada, so if you are keen to donate to a good cause and get art ...in return, now would be a great time to do it! PRINT TITLE: Peaceful Bandit PRINTING MEDIUM: Canvas gallery wrap on wooden frame (comes ready to hang) SIZE: 18x24 (inches) MINIMUM BID: $150 CURRENT BID: $275 SHIPPING COST: Free! BIDDING ENDS: Dec 23 (2 weeks) If you are interested in placing a bid, do so here in a comment or send me a Direct Message. Bidding ends in 2 weeks from now. Thanks so much for the support, Shane.

I'm very excited to finally share this conservation initiative I've been working on. I've contacted a select group of Canadian wildlife photographers that I respect in the hopes to build a collective. As a collective, we will combine forces and use our art to help conserve Canadian wildlife and protect Canadian wild spaces. In the coming weeks we will be collectively running auctions via our individual social media channels, each selling a piece of art. When the auctions are over we will combine our donations into one and 100% of these proceeds will be donated to a Canadian nature trust or Canadian wildlife rehabilitation center. So please visit @canadianconservation on Instagram and give us a follow - more details to come very soon!

"Fox Play"...Red Fox siblings at play...this play is crucial to the young fox's development as it establishes the very strict dominance hierarchy within each fox family unit...this hierarchy is important as dominant kits establish preferential access to food and grooming from the parents...(element: earth)

"Focused Hunter"...Short-eared Owl on the wing over its salt marsh hunting grounds, those piercing yellow eyes focused intently...(element: air)

"Wet Bear"...Be it rain or mosquitoes, the clover munching never stops...(element: water/earth)

"Chew Toy"...Baby raccoon being extra cute nibbling on a branch...(element: earth)

"Leadwood Sunset"...as the African sun sets below the horizon, the day's colours turn to night creating a colourful backdrop and silhouette of this Leadwood Tree and Egyptian Goose nest...(element: fire)

2021 4EP calendars are going fast! Each calendar is $25 (or 5 for $100) with $10 of that being donated to an animal welfare non-profit organization. Send me a message if you are interested as they are already almost 2/3 sold! Thanks for the support, Shane.

"Raven Feathers"...Not many people are aware of how intricate the feather clusters of a Raven are...but when they fluff themselves up and the light hits just right you can see how beautiful they really are...(element: air)

The 2021 4 Element Photos calendars are here! The price this year will be $25 per calendar or 5 for $100 (shipping extra on orders of 3 or more) with $10 from each calendar sold donated to an animal welfare non-profit organization. This year donations are going to The Canid Project as it has been a crazy year for them going through a hurricane while rescuing and rehabilitating a record number of orphaned red foxes! These donations will go directly to support the canid rehabilitation efforts. If you are interested in a calendar, please send me a message or leave a comment here and I will get back to you. As always I would like to thank you all ahead of time for the support. Peace, Shane.

Hey everyone, are you interested in photographing Red Foxes with myself and The Canid Project director and amazing wildlife photographer Amy Shutt Photography, then have a look at the link here. We have 2 tours this year, one is full and the other (May 26-30) has only 2 spots left!! If you are interested, act soon. Proceeds from these workshops go directly to red fox rehabilitation efforts... www.4elementphotos.com/workshops www.thecanidproject.com/washington

"Canid in Monochrome"...a young coyote stands alert on the hunt for his next meal...(element: earth)

"The Hunter Waits"...great grey owl sits patiently, waiting on its hunting perch for a vole to move...(element: air)

"Save the Bees"...A huge swarm of Western Honey Bees surrounding their queen on a maple tree...these tiny little animals are probably some of the most important on the planet, being responsible (through pollination) for basically every other bite of food we humans eat...and yet they are on the path to extinction, mainly from human activities such as habitat removal and pesticide and herbicide use, or the result of our activities such as climate change...but there are ways to ...help these beautiful and vital critters, by planting flowers in your garden that bloom at different times of the year, also think about not mowing your lawn until June as those spring dandelions are actually super important pollen sources for bees until flowers start blooming and consider not using pesticides in your garden...without bees we could not survive...(element: air) See more

"Young Bandits"...Baby raccoons are so fun to photograph, especially at this age...they are extremely curious of the world around them and are interested in inspecting every new thing, photographers included...(element: earth)

"Fox Play"...two young Red Fox siblings at play...(element: earth)

"Round Owl"...I bet you didn't know that Barred Owls become 10x cuter when they scrunch themselves up...(element: air)

"Elk Crossing"...Mama and baby Elk cooling off on a hot summer day in a cool, blue glacial river in the BC Rockies...(element: water)

"Greeting Papa"...Witnessing the bonds exhibited between fox family members, in this case mother and kit, is one of the most beautiful things to see in the wild...(element: earth)

"Mama Raccoon"...Very curious little mama raccoon coming in for a closer look at the strange human lying on his stomach, on the ground, in the rain...(element: earth)

"Eagle Tree Topper"...It's definitely not every day you get to photograph a Bald Eagle on top of a tree, at eye level, with it intently staring right back at you...(element: air)

"Clover Muncher"...be it rain or mosquitoes, the clover munching never stops...(element: earth)

"Alpine Lunch"...not too bad of a lunch spot today at work, deep in the back country of the BC Rockies...(element: earth)

"Squirrel Chirp"...a sentinel Columbian Ground Squirrel letting out an alarm call to the other members of its family...(element: earth)

"Swallow Talk"...clearly a heated debate occurring here between theses two super cute Tree Swallows...(element: air)

"Toy Fern"...Beautiful silver phase red fox kit taking a brief moment of rest as it plays with its new toy, a fern...(element: earth)

"Beak Caress"...a pair of Common ravens exhibiting tender affection for each other during mating season...Ravens will mate for life and every winter exhibit beautiful displays of affection towards one another...(element: air)

"Dandelion Destroyer"...very cute little Least Chipmunk munching away on dandelion seeds...(element: earth)

"Magnificent Muncho"...this is Muncho Lake, and it's amazing...this was one of those gems you stumble on and stay for as long as you can, in my case almost a week...this place is a perfect example of why the northern rockies are so amazing...(element: water)

"Dandelion Bear"...the first step is admitting you have a dandelion problem...(element: earth)

"Curious Kit"...I mean seriously, is there anything cuter than a baby Raccoon...(element: earth)

Always great to have BBC Earth share your pic!!

"Hitchin a Ride"..this was one of those right place, right time amazing moments...as this beautiful family of Common Mergansers swam by while I was laying by the lakeside with the camera, the babies decided to hop up on mom's back and hitch a ride...I've wished to be able to photograph a moment like this, and it was over as quick as it began...(element: water)

"A Fox & A Half"......always the most exuberant of greetings when father arrives back at the den site from a hunt...just pure joy, every single time...(element: earth)

"In Search of Voles"...It is truly amazing to watch a Barn Owl hunt in its environment...they really are one of my favorite animals to see and I so rarely get to see them so each time I do it's like a gift...(element: air)

"Raccoon Sandwich"...what's cuter than one baby Raccoon, how about three of them stacked on top of each other...(element: earth)

"Stone Sheep"...This was my first ever encounter with a Stone Sheep, they're really quite beautiful. I've photographed other wild sheep species before and love them but there's something about this species that is very intriguing, possibly due to where you find them, in remote, high alpine environments that can often be very difficult to access. This magnificent species is unfortunately regularly targeted by trophy hunters here in BC looking for the big one. These trophy hunt...s are rarely about sustenance (but sometimes are and I have no issues with respectful hunting) and are often more about wanting to kill a huge "trophy" for the wall or simply just to check off a new species killed. This is really a horrible practice I find revolting and would never condone. I'd like to think that in the future we can see that there is more value to the planet and the economy by having these "trophy" animals alive vs. profiting from their death...(element: earth) See more

Very excited to just receive the news that one of my photos was just awarded in the Top 100 of 2020 in this year's Audubon Photography Awards...have a scroll through this link and look for the Wood Duck!!!

"Cinnamon in Paintbrush"...just got back from a month traveling the northern regions of my home province of BC and it was totally awesome...this was a trip full of amazing wildlife and more black bear encounters than I could have imagined...of all the bear encounters, this beautiful little cinnamon bear was my favorite...she was so cute with that beautiful orange and brown coat and was very content to just munch away on those delicious Yellow Paintbrush wildflowers as I snapped a billion photos...(element: earth)

Always great to have one of your photos shared by BBC Earth!

"Sunset Fox"...A young Red Fox kit on the prowl at sunset, that white-tipped tail beautifully backlit from the setting sun...(element: earth/fire)

"Ocular Gemstone"...this was my very first opportunity to photograph one of these Double-crested Cormorants up close and I must say they are an extremely beautiful species...that vibrant, turquoise jewel of an eye and the intricate patterns on the wing feathers are really quite amazing...(element: air/water)

"The Rainbow Pigeon"...there's beauty in even the most over looked of things; in order to see it you just need to stop and look...(element: air/earth)

"Ghost of the Forest"...surrounded by pines, this male Great Grey Owl looks off in the direction of his mate calling in the distance just before sundown...(element: air)

"Tossing Figs"...I love these little Yellow-billed Hornbills, probably one of my favorite bird species I've had the pleasure of photographing...here's one that resided near one the bush camps I stayed at while in Africa tossing back a delicious fig...(element: air)

"Curiosity"...gorgeous little melanistic Red Fox kit staring curiously at a fly buzzing around among the ferns...(element: earth)

"Bearly There"...as I was photographing some ferns on a creek, I heard a small branch snap and looked over to see this beautiful Black Bear emerge from the shadows...slowly and peacefully she walked right by me, an encounter I will never forget...bears offer people signs of their intent and this bear was extremely peaceful carrying about her day...(element: earth)

"At Crane Level"...up close and personal with this beautiful Sandhill Crane...(element: air/earth)

"Great Grey Close-up"...You know your having a good day as a wildlife photographer when you see this through the viewfinder...after about an hour of watching this amazing Great Grey Owl he flew to a perch so close to me he filled my frame (this photo is not a crop), seemingly oblivious that I was even there...this was just one of those amazing moments you have in the field from time to time that makes all the effort you've put in worth it...(element: air)

Thanks very much for sharing BBC Earth

"A Big Stretch"...a big ole stretch from this gorgeous Barred Owl just before she took flight to go back to the nest...and how cute is that little foot she's stretching under the perch...(element: air)

"Leopard Look"...probably the most intense animal eye contact I've ever had the privilege of experiencing in the wild...this female leopard was so beautiful and was very confident as she casually strolled right by me, then to see her blend right back into her environment and disappear was thrilling to say the least...(element: earth)

"Stink Eye"...man, talk about getting the stink eye...I love these little Burrowing Owls, they're so hilarious and full of character...check out that eye that's in the shade, it's way bigger than the one in the sun, so funny...(element: earth)

"Portrait of a Corvid"...Ravens are one of the smartest animals in the world, an intelligence that is clearly visible almost immediately as you observe them...they have insane abilities to solve complex problems and it is said that their cognition is on par with dolphins, great apes and even younger humans...have I mentioned before how much I love these animals...(element: air)

"Wood Duck Droplets"...without a doubt, wood ducks are one of my favorite species to photograph, they truly are nature's art...(element: water)

"Springtime Snack"...a juvenile Yellow-bellied Marmot enjoying one of its favorite springtime snacks, freshly sprouted dandelions...(element: earth)

"A Hunter's Gaze"...watching these Short-eared Owls hunt is amazing, they never lose focus, those intense yellow eyes always on target...(element: air)

"Camouflage Master"...that moment when you look over and see that the tree trunk actually has eyes and is staring right back at you...these Great Grey Owls are truly masters of camouflage...(element: air/earth)

"Turquoise Islet"...There are so many pockets of my home province of British Columbia that are just beautiful beyond words, like this tiny islet surrounded by the surreal, turquoise waters of Chilko Lake...through my work I've been very fortunate to visit many wild and remote corners of this place I'm very proud to call home...(element: air/water)

"Kit in the Grass"...These are the moments, moments where you connect with an animal like this, recognize and accept each other, and no matter how brief, it always impacts me and connects me even closer to the natural world...(element: earth)

"Cheeky Racoon"...Of all the cute furry faces I get to photograph, I hold a real soft spot for raccoons...they are a misunderstood animal, labeled as pests simply because they've adapted to live alongside us...but when you spend time with them you see their character and personalities and it becomes impossible to not love them...(element: earth)