Meet Dennis Stewart of Nature’s Realm Wildlife Photography in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis Stewart.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Dennis. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always had a passion for nature, wildlife and the outdoors. I was a very shy kid growing up in the inner city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and for whatever reason, I was much more comfortable in nature than hanging out with the other neighborhood kids doing…well, what “normal” kids supposedly do……whatever that is??

My world was essentially only a very small yard in a decaying alleyway surrounded by an urban jungle of brick and concrete. Arachnids, Ants and other creepy crawlies become my fascination, and very likely started me down my path toward becoming both a naturalist and a wildlife photographer.

I have never “formally” gone to school to learn photography, nor did I realize I ever had a passion for it until probably sometime in the mid-nineties when my wife bought me a small film camera to take on my frequent hikes through the Florida Everglades, of which were near where I lived at the time. I think she really just wanted to see some of the wildlife I often described to her without experiencing the humidity, mosquitoes, and danger of trekking along with me.

My early images were in truth mostly dreadful, but I was enthralled to be able to capture a fleeting moment in time of which could forever be remembered without a single word ever need be spoken. It was really not until I moved to Texas and changed over into digital photography that my little hobby started to become something more. I began to submit images to various online forums and started to receive lots of praises and support from both amateur and professionals alike. I was even fortunate enough to have several of my images selected by the editors of National Geographic and prominently posted to their website of which really was a motivation to me, as it has always been my dream to someday have one of my wildlife images grace the cover of this iconic magazine.

Today, as a wildlife photographer, my passion continues to be focused on capturing breathtaking images of nature and wildlife. As a business entrepreneur, my focus is all about creating a niche for myself whereas I can pursue my passion and still keep food on the table and a roof over my head.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Wildlife Photography is not a profession typically for someone looking to get rich quick, monetarily speaking. It takes a highly determined effort that profoundly relies on patience, persistence, hard work, and a lot of luck along the way to be successful.

Selling wildlife photography to the average consumer is not something in great demand unless you consider adding pictures of “people’s pets” into your wheelhouse, of which is probably a route I should have considered long ago (lol). Exposure, exposure, and MORE exposure is the quintessence of what is my biggest challenge and is something that I work at constantly to improve upon.

A close second would be that there are a lot of great wildlife photographers, both amateur and professional alike who compete for what is, in reality, a highly specialized field of photography. Equipment requirements can be expensive, and balancing your time between wanting to simply take pictures of animals, and running a business can be trying.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Nature’s Realm Wildlife Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Nature’s Realm Wildlife Photography is dedicated to providing unique and amazing images of wildlife and nature photography representing the vast bio-diversity of species on planet Earth.

We routinely provide license agreements (image rights) to companies and individuals wanting to use any of our copyrighted images for any type marketing/promotional purposes. We also partner with select non-profit organizations via donations to help foster education towards wildlife and various conservation efforts. On our website, we sell paper prints, wall art, desk art and various other keepsakes that are too numerous to list, but all so very cool.

I have yet to do any type of formal art exhibits/shows, but should that opportunity arise, I believe it would be a great fit for my little company and would further complement my wanting to publish my first wildlife book of which is definitely something I want to pursue once I find a good publisher wanting to partner with me.

Over the course of the past five years I have been blessed to have had several of my images published by the likes of IFC Films (Movie Branding), Scholastic Books (book cover), Texas Parks and Wildlife, and many others to include having one of my most iconic images prominently displayed on the splash screen of National Geographic in 2009.

Locally, I was also involved with a large Public Arts Project with the city of Fort Worth whereas two of my images were transformed into giant mosaic monoliths standing prominently on the newly opened Chisolm Trail Parkway. I along with several other local photographers were selected, and it is something I will be forever proud of. I believe the biggest thing that sets me apart from others is that I tend to be able to see the infinite details of life all around me whereas others might ignore or never even notice. I guess you could call this an advantage in an odd sort of way 🙂

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to continue to challenge myself to take even more unique and compelling images of wildlife that will help educate and bring attention towards the amazing diversity of life that surrounds us each and every day. In so doing, gaining further exposure via social media, contest, exhibits, and word of mouth is my objective.

As stated previously, publishing my first book is something I have always wanted to do and will be pursuing.

Contact Info:

• Address: 3813 Vernon Way, Keller Texas 76244
• Website: www.naturesrealm.net
• Phone: 817-682-5528
• Email: dstewart@naturesrealm.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrwildlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nrwildlifephotography/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NATURESREALM
• Other: http://dennisstewartwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/

Image Credit:
Nature’s Realm Wildlife Photography / Dennis Stewart

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