Interview Jacquie Matechuk, Nature Photographer of the Year, 2023

November 11, 2023
Interview by Erik Ruiterman

Today the jury of the prestigious Nature Photographer of the Year contest announced the winners of this year’s edition.

I spoke to Jacquie Matechuk shortly after she learned that she may call herself the Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 and she was still over the moon.

Jacquie: “It seems almost surreal. I saw the quality of the other competitors and I was really impressed. To me it was already an honor to be one of the finalist. I feel deeply grateful for the jury and the organization of Nature Talks, to grant me such an incredible honor of being the Nature Photographer of the year 2023”.

When I asked her about the winning photo Jacquie said: “When I took the shot I knew right away this was one of my favorite shots on that trip. Because of the circumstances, with temperatures heating up more then 10 degrees in just a few moments, due to the sun getting out after some heavy rain, my gear fogged up in a sec and I had to stop photographing. But I didn’t mind, because by then I knew I had taken this photo of the big spectacled bear looking so vulnerable in this century-old fig tree, looking for hope. Because of the weather I had used a slow shutter speed which, with the heavy rains, makes the photo look a bit washed out at some points but for me that just adds to the atmosphere. It defines the photo and I think better weather would have made a less intriguing photo”.

Being a conservation photographer Jacquie is very happy with the prize as it wil open up doors that are usually hard to open. Jacquie: “I’m a member of the Canadian Conservationist Photographer Collective. The CCPC is a group of like- minded Canadian photographers from coast to coast. We come together to collaborate for NGO’s, helping them with fund raising by donating some of our work. We want to make people aware that it is important to be conscience of our impact on nature and environment. Showing people what nature is all about is necessary, because people have to connect to something before they start caring for it. They have other things in mind, working hard day by day to be able to pay their bills. That is why we as creators have to throw in our talents to inspire people. We can make people see the beauty of nature through our eyes, but only if we share it”.

When I asked Jacquie about her plans after winning this prize she told me: “Only a week after getting home I’m going to Kenya and Uganda to photograph gorillas and chimpansees. Ever since I was a young girl I have been inspired by Jane Goodall and her work. This year I had the chance to meet with her in person at a fundraiser where I was donating some work. And now I’m going where she was, walking her steps. I want to learn from the people living there, I want to make story telling pictures, to raise awareness. I want to put the images to work. They got to move people, so they have to tell the whole story”.