Matthew Henry Photography

A white-tailed deer with an interesting antler deformity that I spotted earlier this summer while biking in the backcountry.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find any great grey owl chicks this summer but I spent a good amount of time observing chicks last summer and still have many pictures to share! I found this shot in March while editing the files I never got to last summer, and have loved it ever since. This shot was taken right at dusk, and it was pretty dark. The chick sat on this perch for quite some time, so I was able to play around with angles and found a green bush to put in the foreground and I think the result was pretty cool.

A young black bear with a very healthy looking coat.

We had just watched a bear walk up to the wolf den, and walk around it. It showed some interest in the den, but luckily not enough to dig the pups out. Shortly after the bear left, an adult wolf came out of the woods and circled around the den. It was smelling everything, and seemed almost frantic. It was fascinating to see this behaviour. While observing the wolf den we kept our distance so we wouldn’t disturb the pups.

At the Friends of Spruce Woods Gift Shop (located in the Park Centre) we sell lots of products from local vendors, including Matthew Henry Photography. Matthew... Henry is an eighteen-year-old photographer from Treherne, Manitoba. His focus has shifted towards telling the stories of wildlife with intimate portraits, but he still takes time to capture the beautiful landscapes of Canada and the world. The goal of Matthew 's photography is to evoke emotions from the viewers, thus creating an appreciation for our natural world, and inspiring them to protect our environment. Matthew has a conservative focus with his photography. His photos can help expose viewers to a world many do not get to witness, and this can create awareness for our animal species that need protection. For the past five years, Matthew has been on a journey of self-discovery through photography, and developed an intense appreciation for nature and the systems within it. His hope is that you are inspired enough by his photography to go out and explore nature on your own, and develop your own appreciation. Make sure to stop by and see Matthew's photography, as well as our other local products available for purchase!

Happy Canada Day! Thankful for the amazing wilderness areas and abundance of wildlife in this great country

I love getting low angles when I am taking pictures, and sometimes that means getting dirty! To take this shot of a killdeer, I laid down in the wet sand and had my face and camera right against the ground! I was a little dirty when I got up, but it was worth it!

Manitoba has many hidden gems, and sometimes you have to go off the beaten path and pay close attention to find them. One summer, in Riding Mountain National Park, I was in an area where I had noticed fresh lynx tracks, when I saw this lynx zip past me. I slowly moved to the spot where it had disappeared, and noticed the grass move ever so slightly. Looking through my lens, I focused on the grass when the lynx appeared and stared at me for ten seconds. This was just enough ti...me to take a couple of pictures, and then it disappeared into the forest. There are many adventures like this one to be had in the amazing province of Manitoba, so get out there and explore. I guarantee that you will come home with a smile and some good stories to share around the campfire. Home is where the heart is, and Manitoba is where Canada’s Heart Beats. Check out @travelmanitoba’s website to plan your next adventure at home in our beautiful province. #exploreMBwithme #manitobanice #paidpromotion See more

Just outside your window is Manitoba, one of the world's premiere birding destinations. Grab your binoculars or camera, and venture out on the Manitoba section of the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail to see how many of Manitoba’s 390 birds you can find. While on your adventure, you may get a surprise and see a rare visitor like this stunning Western Tanager. This summer, explore our beautiful province and remember, home is where the heart is. To download the Pine to Prairie Trail map and embark on your birding adventure, visit @travelmanitoba’s website. #exploreMBwithme #manitobanice #paidpromotion

Red fox kit I photographed by its den last spring. It is pretty cool to have them live so close to my house!

This summer, Manitoba’s wilderness is open for exploration. Throw your kayaks on the car and leave the city behind, adventure awaits. Riding Mountain National Park is home to many winding rivers that weave through the untouched wilderness. Keep your eyes peeled, as you might come across a moose cooling off in the crystal clear water. Your plans this summer may have been cancelled, but your new ones are waiting to be booked. Home is where the heart is, and your heart is longing for a paddling adventure in the wilds of Manitoba. Start planning your visit today, and visit @travelmanitoba’s website to learn more about what Riding Mountain has to offer. #exploreMBwithme #manitobanice

Hoping to spend some time with the loons this weekend! I was very lucky with some beautiful morning light last year, hopefully I get the same again!

Look at how intensely focused this owl is on it’s perch. I love how you can see it’s legs stretched out, and the light coming through it’s wings showing how beautifully detailed they are. Great greys are amazing to watch, their precision while flying and absolute silence when they flap their wings is incredible.

Today, many of Parks Canada’s sites are gradually resuming limited visitor services and access. For several months now, wildlife have enjoyed greatly reduced amounts of visitors and been free to roam throughout the park without having to avoid people. When you visit, please be mindful of the fact that wildlife may not be used to looking both ways before they cross the road so pay attention and respect the speed limits!

I love how the dew in the grass made this bear cub have a spiky look. Bear cubs are the cutest.

Ever hear a thumping sound coming from the bush? Here’s the culprit, a ruffed grouse! Males beat their wings against the air making a vacuum to create the thump.. thump... thumpthumpthump sound. They preform their drumming while perched on a special log, one they will use for many years. Male ruffed grouse drum to attract a female and announce their territory during mating season from April to May. You may also hear them drumming in the fall when young males begin to disperse and look for a territory to claim for themselves.

The wind today has me wanting to curl up like this little fox pup. They sure are fun to watch. One minute they look so restful, and then the next they explode into a ball of energy.

I have fond memories of soaking up the morning sun with this red-winged blackbird last spring. It was such a gorgeous morning, I arrived at the marsh before sunrise and laid down on the boardwalk to watch the sun rise up through the fog that was covering the marsh. The birds were singing all around me, and I could feel their energy. This red-winged blackbird flew over, landing right beside me, and the two of us sat enjoying the warmth from the suns rays.

A lot of people are often surprised to see bears up in the trees, but it is a very common occurrence in the spring. Trees with their catkins and buds are some of the first things to green up in the spring, and hungry bears waking up from hibernation rely on this as an initial food source before more plants start to grow again. As you can see, the bear has made what almost looks like a nest by pulling branches towards itself and breaking them to eat the delicious catkins. It is amazing to see how easily bears snap the branches. I have no clue how they manage to balance in some of the places they do, I’ve seen them venture out onto some pretty skinny branches! The look on this bears face certainly makes me think that catkins are a tasty treat, but I don’t think I will try them anytime soon!!!

Last spring, I had the incredibly unique opportunity to watch wolf pups at their rendezvous site. I discovered the den totally by accident while watching a moose that was standing close to the den. A friend of mine noticed movement underneath a large spruce tree, and we were shocked to see these wolf pups! After realizing that there were wolf pups playing under the tree, we retreated from our position and left shortly after. In order to limit my disturbance to the wolves, I only visited the den three times, and spent a very short amount of time watching them. It was tempting to spend more time watching them as I may never have this opportunity again, but as always the well-being of the animal is much more important than a photo. This image was taken a great distance away from the den with a 500mm lens and cropped in an extreme amount.