Tales From The Trails

Campfire Stories, Adventure Logs and Photography Tips

Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

How To Practice Ethical Wildlife Photography

We've all found ourselves in situations where our actions may have inadvertently stressed an animal or its environment. The key is to learn from these mistakes and take extra care not to repeat them. As wildlife photographers, we have a moral responsibility to educate our peers on the impact and dangers of disrupting the natural habitats and emotional lives of our subjects.
Jesse and I experience constant pressure to share locations online. And it’s because of this we felt it necessary to list a few considerations, thoughts, feelings and tips about how to hold everyone in the community to a higher standard.

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

The Thrill of Backcountry Camping in Algonquin Park

After a year of intense travel, we were eager to be paddling home this June. Unlike previous years, we set our clocks for 2:30 a.m., strapped the canoe on the roof and took long, winding dirt roads to our put-in spot. Being kissed by thousands of mosquitos, black flies and deer flies is always worth it when put into perspective. Algonquin’s backcountry holds a special magnificence, the unknown of what could grace our path feels similar to the wonder of Christmas Eve. Sometimes, it’s pure magic.

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

‘Algonquin Life’ Magazine Shares Our Love Story in 2023 Edition

As we approach our first wedding anniversary this August, we are thrilled to be featured in a six page spread in the 2023 edition of ‘Algonquin Life’ magazine about the whirlwind that has been our story — the path that led us North, to photography and to each other.

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Why South Africa Should Be Your Next Photography Destination

We had the opportunity to host a bucket list adventure in South Africa, a photogenic country whose wildlife density make it a photographer’s paradise. From snow-capped mountains to subtropical rainforests and wildlife-rich savannahs, South Africa is a destination like no other. With the help of our travel partners, Nicola and Keri, of Finisterra Travel, we set out to curate the ultimate ten day wildlife photography workshop for hobbyist and professional photographers alike.

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Just Married in Algonquin Park

On August 17th, we paddled to the (still unnamed) Lake of Two Rivers island before sunrise and waited for the sky to light up. Accompanied by our photographers, officiant and two close friends, we cached our canoes on the rocky shore and discovered the perfect patch of Earth to say “I do” on…

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Jesse Villemaire Jesse Villemaire

#SorryAlgonquin

One year ago we started an Instagram page called Sorry Algonquin showcasing REAL negative reviews of Algonquin Park, paired with our personal photography of Algonquin Park.

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

24 Moose in 36 Hours: Our Backcountry Moose Safari

May and June have always proven fruitful for moose sightings, so we opted to pack light and journey deep into Algonquin Park’s backcountry at the height of black fly season in late Spring. At the time, my career as a Producer was unrelenting and I was only able to pull myself away from set for 36 hours for an ambitious paddle…

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Winter Ticks vs. Moose in Algonquin Park

What’s more irritating, black flies or Winter ticks? If you’ve encountered a ghostly-looking Springtime moose in Algonquin Park, you may have asked yourself: “Why are the moose missing so much of their fur?” The short answer: Winter ticks.

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Part 3: Canada Lynx Trilogy Finale

Between our first, second and most recent trip, we’ve travelled over 6300km in three weeks, pursuing the elusive Canada Lynx. With the amount of miles we’ve driven, we could have made it to Disneyland and back! We have been rewarded for our efforts on each of our visits thankfully, with a total face-time of roughly 45 minutes with two different lynx families. We hope you’ve been enjoying the images!

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Part 2: Canada Lynx Quest Continued

We’ve been running on adrenaline since encountering a proud female Canada Lynx and her four, healthy kits last Tuesday. After witnessing the lynxes rambunctious energy as they zipped through a sea of manicured trees in pursuit of a panicked snowshoe hare, we were determined to have more time with these ghostly, fuzzy-faced creatures. On this week’s trip, we travelled 2330km in hot pursuit…

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Part 1: Pursuing the ‘Shadow of the Forest’

With Muskoka covered in a sheet of ice and persistent rain in the forecast, we opted to journey six hours from home for the chance of scoring a unique wildlife opportunity in fresh, powdered snow. The purpose of our 1600km roundtrip journey was to catch a glimpse of the ever-elusive Canada Lynx, otherwise known as the “Shadow of the Forest”!

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Jesse Villemaire Jesse Villemaire

How to Help a Snapping Turtle Cross the Road

5 Tips to Help a Turtle Cross the Road - Please Brake For Turtles! Helping a snapping turtle across the road can be intimidating for many people. However, they may need your help! Here's a quick video to show you how easily it can be done.

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Jesse Villemaire Jesse Villemaire

Toronto Star Wildlife Photography Interview With Follow Me North

We were approached by a journalist for the Toronto Star asking to help write a story about wildlife photography. We were happy to accept and we were thrilled to see our interview was given almost a full page in the travel section of Saturday’s newspaper!

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Jesse Villemaire Jesse Villemaire

What Camera Do You Use?

This is one of our most asked questions, usually found in the comments section under our photos on social media. If you’re on the market for a new camera, I understand that the number of options and brands out there to research is intimidating. Learn more about our top gear picks…

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Jesse Villemaire Jesse Villemaire

Backyard Barred Owl

The past couple of months we’ve been exploring our own backyard and getting outdoors as much as possible. One morning as we were enjoying a coffee on our back deck, a Barred Owl appeared from the depths of the forrest and perched on a tree very close by!

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Susan Villemaire Susan Villemaire

Black Bear Safety in Algonquin Park

Next to the Moose, the Black Bear is the largest mammal in Algonquin Park. Black bears are on a restrictive schedule during the Spring…

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