The Wild Lens

INTERVIEW by MICHELLE LILES and FRANS LANTING
PHOTOS by FRANS LANTING

Wild Lens Magazine Publisher, Michelle Liles, had the pleasure of interviewing photographer Frans Lanting, hailed as one of the greatest photographers of our time. His influential work appears in books, magazines, and exhibitions around the world. Born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, he holds a master’s degree in economics but later moved to the United States to study environmental planning. Soon after, he began photographing the natural world and never looked back.

Michelle: You have been a Monterey Bay resident for many years now. As you and Chris have traveled all over the planet for assignments, personal trips, and capturing some of the most renowned and rare species on Earth, what were the characteristics of this region that inspired you to select Monterey Bay as your home? 

Frans: My partner in life and work, Chris Eckstrom, and I have traveled all over the world, but we chose Santa Cruz as a place to live over three decades ago. The natural environment here is astonishing, along with the wonderful community of residents. Because the natural environment is so breathtaking, it draws people from far and wide, inspiring photographers for generations. However, not many people know what makes the place tick. We decided to profile Monterey Bay in the same way we’ve done for places like the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Pantanal in South America. We wanted to help people who live and work here—and visitors, of course—appreciate why it’s so special.

Michelle: Can you tell us a bit about The Bay of Life project inspired by the Monterey Bay of northern California?

FRANS: With these projects, we typically start with a simple idea and then flesh it out with images as well as words. For us, Monterey Bay is a unique confluence of land and sea, shaped by the forces of fog and fire—two elements that define the ocean and the land. But these systems are also influenced by human actions. So, we portray Monterey Bay dynamically. We look back in time to see how it came to be and look forward to examine how ecosystems everywhere are being influenced by people.

That’s Bay of Life in a nutshell. We published it as both a book and an exhibition with support from Bay Photo. We also entered an interesting partnership with our local mass transit system, Santa Cruz Metro, where we wrapped 30 buses with images from the project. These are full wraps, so if you see a mountain lion on the side of a bus, it’s quite a spectacular sight. They’re like moving art exhibits—billboards on wheels that are part of the community. Everyone in the area has seen these buses, so we’ve achieved complete saturation, to put it in media terms. That’s very gratifying. Alongside this, we’re doing all kinds of educational outreach because our goal is to help people understand where they live.

We want to contribute to a sense of place and inspire people to have a sense of purpose for their home. That’s what Bay of Life is all about. These same principles of visual storytelling, which we’ve applied to places all around the world, have been honed over decades of doing projects for National Geographic. We also produce our own books for various publishers, but it’s been especially gratifying to focus our cameras and storytelling on a place that starts right outside our front door.

"...Monterey Bay is a unique confluence of land and sea, shaped by the forces of fog and fire—two elements that define the ocean and the land. But these systems are also influenced by human actions. So, we portray Monterey Bay dynamically. We look back in time to see how it came to be and look forward to examine how ecosystems everywhere are being influenced by people."

–Frans Lanting

Michelle: As a Santa Cruz native, I’m so glad you’ve brought the Bay of Life Project to the community. It’s such an innovative idea, and I hope other communities will consider similar projects. We see you have some incredible trips available in 2025: Pumas of Patagonia (May 30–June 6), Zambia Safari (August 5–15), Alaska Brown Bears: Up Close and Personal (August 25–September 5), and an in-development trip to Greenland in summer 2025.

Frans: We design travel experiences for photographers and naturalists. We take people to amazing places and introduce them to opportunities for photography, but we typically approach it within a bigger context. I want people to appreciate where they are and what they’re looking at because that leads to a better understanding. This, in turn, helps participants make more creative images, rather than just reacting to what’s in front of them.

For example, on our Alaska trip, we charter our own plane or boat and spend time observing the behavior and attitudes of individual bears. We give them time to get used to us, which makes a huge difference. Before we begin photographing, we assess the situation. Over the years, this process has become second nature for me. I let the animals tell me what their tolerance level is, which is key to my work with wild animals. Instead of simply putting a camera between myself and an animal, it’s vital to understand what’s happening. Otherwise, you’re acting as a photographer rather than as another living being who is entering a wild creature’s habitat. We prefer to let the animals dictate the situation—not us.

Michelle: I love this respectful, noble approach. I’ve been on many tours where wildlife has been greatly disturbed, and this methodology is a much better way to keep wild animals wild, without them fearing humans or becoming too habituated.

We see that you also have some workshops scheduled for 2025: Seascapes (Monterey, February 8–9), Personal Visions (Virtual Workshop, March 1–2, perfect for our readers and subscribers across 27 countries and six continents), Playing with Plants (California, April 23–25), and Between the Tides (Santa Cruz, April 29–30).

Frans: We create projects to reach people across a broad spectrum, and we’re also deeply involved in photographic education. We’ve been running our own workshop program for over 20 years, and many of our participants come back repeatedly. It’s incredibly gratifying to see them grow.

I’ve developed a teaching method I call “shortcuts to creativity.” Many amateur photographers get lost in technology, as cameras have become very complex tools. For me, cameras are simply a means to an end. I believe modern camera technology can be used in a simplified way that leads to creativity. It’s also a lot more fun than obsessing over every minute detail. While I’m not dismissing the value of understanding all a camera’s functions, that’s not my focus when teaching.

Our upcoming Monterey workshop reflects this approach. Over two days, I plan to introduce participants to the styles and techniques of great Monterey Bay photographers like Ansel Adams, the Weston family, and Wynn Bullock. Each had a unique way of depicting the same places. It’s fascinating to see how the same landscape can inspire completely different visual interpretations.

We’ll use their traditions as a starting point, incorporating contemporary tools and perspectives. We’ll also be joined by Wynn Bullock’s daughter, who will provide insights into her father’s mind. Additionally, we’ll visit descendants of the Weston family, which will add another interesting layer.

Michelle: Your iconic images have created a passion for and interest in the natural world around the globe. In 2023, you received the HIPA Award from the Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Dubai Opera House. What was that experience like?

Frans: The Crown Prince of Dubai is a passionate photographer himself, and he established a foundation that promotes photography and supports photographic education in the Middle East, with a special reach into Asia. They created a photo contest that receives an enormous number of entries. I was invited to be a judge one year, and it was fascinating to see how people from different countries photograph the natural world and interact with it. The photographic traditions in Asia, Europe, and North America are so varied—it was a great surprise.

The foundation has become very influential, especially in selecting photographers for lifetime achievement awards. Receiving one of these awards from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum last year was a great honor. The event was held at the Dubai Opera House, a spectacular venue. Photography and photographers are treated with great respect there.

Michelle: That’s wonderful to hear! And congratulations—what an honor. Thank you very much for your time and for answering our questions. Best of luck with your workshops, tours, and ventures in 2025.

FRANS LANTING and CHRIS ECKSTROM have published a book to support awareness of Monterey Bay conservation efforts.