From Space Shuttles to Grizzly Bears.
Working on the space shuttle program inside the theater of American manned space flight at Kennedy Space Center, profoundly influenced Jeffrey J. Soulliere's approach to storytelling through fine art photography, shaping his ability to convey compelling narratives and capture extraordinary moments. Here are some key ways this experience impacted his photographic storytelling:
Attention to Detail
The meticulous nature of space missions, where every detail matters, honed Jeff's ability to notice and emphasize the finer points in his photographs. This attention to detail allows him to create rich, layered images that tell a deeper story beyond the surface.
Patience and Timing
Space work requires precise timing and patience, qualities that Jeff has carried over to his wildlife photography. His willingness to hike for days to capture the perfect shot reflects the same discipline and persistence needed in space exploration. This patience ensures that he captures moments that are both rare and telling.
Technical Mastery
Jeff's background with advanced space technology equipped him with a strong technical foundation. This expertise translates into his use of high-end photographic equipment, enabling him to capture high-quality images that effectively tell a story. Many of which advance to the level of "Fine Art" status within the gallery art world. His technical skills allow him to manipulate lighting, composition, and focus to enhance the narrative quality of his gallery art.
Unique Visual Perspective
With natural talent and the learned ability of an artist's keen eye. Along with the dramatic influences of witnessing the space shuttle program with all its colorful launches, landings and worldwinded social content of astronaut related events. Gave Jeff a unique visual perspective, one that emphasizes the grandeur and significance of fleeting moments. His work aims to show the world what natural backcountry wildlife habitat is truly like, a perspective he applies to wildlife photography by capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of nature in its most candid moments.
Narrative Focus
Jeff's experience in Kennedy Space Center's NASA Public Affairs Office of External Relations. Volunteering to escorting the mission crews astronaut's family members behind-the-scenes during space shuttle launches and landings. Taught him the importance of storytelling. His photographs are not just images but narratives that convey the journey, emotions, and significance of the subjects he captures. This narrative focus is evident in his wildlife photography, where each image tells a story about the animal's behavior, environment, and interaction with the ecosystem.
Adaptability and Innovation
The dynamic and often unpredictable nature of human space missions ground operations work required Jeff to be adaptable and innovative. These qualities are crucial in wildlife photography, where conditions can change rapidly, and opportunities for the perfect shot are fleeting. Jeffrey's ability to adapt and innovate ensures that he can capture compelling stories in any situation. Including images taken in -28° F below zero, his record so far.
In summary, Jeffrey J. Soulliere's time with the space shuttle program and more than a decade of backcountry focus. Has instilled in him a meticulous, patient, and technically proficient approach to photography. His unique visual perspective and narrative focus allow him to create powerful, storytelling images that capture the essence of both space exploration and the natural world.
Present Day
Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jeff continues his focus on front & backcountry wildlife photography, while guiding grizzly bear & wolf pack tours into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). Offering adventurous remote winter snow-cat/snowcoach and summer multi-day wildlife viewing tours. Sharing Yellowstone, GYE and space program history, grizzly bear & wolf wildlife stories along the wilderness way. In addition, Jeff continues to patiently wait for commercial property to come available in the "Town Square" section of Jackson, Wyoming. An effort to open his first of several "Life So Wild Images of the Natural World" galleries. https://lifesowildtours.com
