In January 2024, Stacy Gessler found herself outdoors in below-freezing temperatures at Yellowstone National Park, waiting for just the right sliver of a second to photograph scenes of a pack of wolves as they went about their day.
Gessler and a group of four other women photographers were only able to reach the interior of Yellowstone via a snow coach and with the help of a dedicated guide who knew where to go for their mission.
In eight hours of shooting through her telephoto lens, Gessler maintained a safe distance from the pack, while still capturing majestic photos of the wolves and their pups.
Gessler's photos, and those of the other women in her group, became the basis for a collaborative photobook published in October titled Wolves Across the River: A Yellowstone Journey.
Gessler captured scenes from that day that were light and charming, as well as instances revealing the life-and-death drama of the wild, such as when bison arrived on the scene. She particularly recalls "heart-pounding moments" when the bison nearly kicked one of the pups. "The sheer respect the bison commanded of an entire pack of wolves: It was amazing," she says.
But the wolves ended up ruling the day as the bison ultimately jumped into the river to escape the pack. It was a dramatic moment for Gessler and the other women. "Watching the bison choose his own fate — the cold waters of the river! 'Awe-inspiring' just doesn't cover the emotion so many of us experienced."
A native of Montana who nows lives near Moscow, Gessler grew up outdoors, developing an understanding of wildlife habitats, and habits, that even now underlies her success as a photographer.
"It's luck because wildlife do what they do, but kind of knowing where to go, knowing what the animals' behaviors are, helps predict how to find them," Gessler says. "So a big part of it is just being prepared."
Those insights helped her capture spectacular photographs of a hummingbird balancing on a flower in a twinkling shower of water droplets, a work she's titled "Water Ballerina."
Her work was featured in the Outdoor Idaho photo competition organized by Idaho Public Television and is being considered in the National Audubon Society's photography competition.
Gessler's not just a spectator. During a triple-digit heat wave last summer, she discovered a sick juvenile great horned owl and rushed it to the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
"It didn't end well for the poor baby, and I cried all the way home, but I don't regret trying," Gessler says. "These acts matter, and they are worth it."
Advocacy for wildlife — whether through acts of caring or sharing of her photographs — is important to Gessler, who still has a day job at WSU in Pullman. She's made photo contributions to the International Wildlife Coexistence Network, Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment nonprofit, and the Children of Wolves documentary, all in hopes of creating awareness of issues facing wild creatures.
Being able to photograph moose, eagles and deer — and even wolves — in the wild is something Gessler doesn't take for granted.
She's the grandmother of a 13-year-old boy, who uses and cares for one of her older cameras and says he wants to be just like her.
"At one point, he said, 'Nana, will I be able to photograph what was in the wild someday?' He lives in Montana and understands the controversy there," Gessler says. "That inspires me, just to know that if he gets half of what I've gotten out of doing this, that's pretty amazing to me."
She hopes her work can make a difference, helping to safeguard the future of the wildlife she loves.
"It's not about selling photos; it's about advocacy," Gessler says. "If all I do through my photography is touch that one person that can make a difference, that can go on to save wildlife. That, for me, is what it's about, preserving what we have."
Wolves Across the River: A Yellowstone Journey by Stacy Gessler, Julie Barrick, Deby Dixon, Beth Moos and Irene Reti is available on Etsy. Find Stacy Gessler's photos at gesslernaturephotography.com.