A lynx captured on camera by a Northern Alberta photographer will be appearing on the front cover of an upcoming edition of Canadian Geographic.
Although this won’t be the first time that one of Donna Feledichuk’s photographs has appeared on a magazine cover, it is a first time featured on the front of Canadian Geographic, which is an accomplishment she is very proud of.
According to the veteran photographer, the photo of the lynx will be on the cover of the March/April edition of the magazine.
In 2023 and 2024, Feledichuk’s wildlife photographs were featured inside the pages of Canadian Geographic. She will also have another image featured in an upcoming article recognizing the 50th anniversary of the beaver as the symbol of Canada.
“When I started in wildlife photography about a decade ago, it was one of my goals to be published in Canadian Geographic, one of the most prestigious magazines in Canada,” she tells Lakeland This Week. “Getting the cover though, that is just next level. I am truly humbled.”
The photo of the lynx was taken in the Lac La Biche area.
“I happened to see a lynx walking down a back country gravel road,” she explains.
As to how Feledichuk was able to capture the wildcat on camera, she says she watched the animal from a distance for a few minutes until it left the road and passed into a group of trees lining a field. She then went to that spot, walked up to the edge of the trees expecting to catch a glimpse of the lynx crossing the field. To her surprise, the lynx was sitting no more than 20 feet away.
When asked how much of a challenge it was to get close enough to the lynx, Feledichuk says it was not a challenge. She went on to explain that such a scenario is rare as the animals usually move into the forest quite quickly when they see people, making it very difficult to photograph them.
Regarding the type of camera and lens used to take the photograph, Feledichuk says she uses a Canon R5 Mark ii with a RF 400mm f2.8 lens for most of her photos.
In addition to being the vice president academic and research at Portage College, Feledichuk also operates a photography business where she sells wildlife photographs featuring various animals, including bears, foxes, and owls.
She has had her work published in BBC Wildlife, National Geographic (Espanol) Untamed Magazine, Earth Endeavours, and Frames. She also writes a regular column about species at risk for PhotoWILD Magazine.
Over the years, her business has grown, and recently she started offering photo tours, which she says have garnered a considerable amount of interest.
Getting into the outdoors to photograph wildlife is an activity Feledichuk enjoys and is passionate about.
“What I love is simply the connection with nature, being immersed in the moment, and having the privilege to tell the stories of the wildlife that inhabit this vast and rugged wilderness,” she says.