When Andrew Interisano set out to photograph some NOTL’s infamous skunks, he didn’t know he’d be taking an internationally award-winning shot of another creature.
Interisano, 33, moved into his parent’s house during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he began to familiarize himself with the nature and animals in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
During the spring of 2021, he set out to photograph some of the skunks lingering around his NOTL neighbourhood in Old Town, spending every other night for about a week in search of the perfect shot.
A shot resulting from one of the outings, featuring two coyotes, is one of a handful of photographs to receive the “Highly Commended” accolade in the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest this year.
Awarded in the category of urban wildlife, Interisano’s photograph “Midnight Ramblers” will be displayed alongside 100 photographs, taken all over the world, in an exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, running from Dec. 21 to May 4.
Interisano had no intention of capturing the coyotes that night, but when out at night between 10 p.m. and midnight, he got lucky.
“I didn’t see them at first — I didn’t recognize what they were, but I’d seen something cut across the road coming from Butler’s Barracks,” he said.
In his car, Interisano turned the corner and found the two coyotes in the middle of the road, he said.
“I poked my head out of the window with my camera. It was a pretty magical moment.”
After the adrenaline rush calmed down, Interisano realized the coyotes had stopped in the road because another group of them were howling somewhere in the near distance.
“It was kind of this eerie, magical moment that happened. I put my camera down and watched them listen, then they were off and away,” he said.
When he submitted the photo to be judged, Interisano included a story describing the conflict between wildlife and residents.
Coyotes have been spotted roaming neighbourhoods in NOTL, primarily in the spring following the mating season, with a few reported incidents of coyotes chasing pet dogs.
Their presence among humans has been attributed to factors such as people directing feeding them, unattended garbage and unsealed trash cans becoming foraging sites for food and development disrupting their natural habitats.
The dark and light sides of the image symbolize the balance between animal and human in NOTL, Interisano said.
“This is such a beautiful moment, but there is sort of a dark side that’s happening, there’s conflict with humans and we have to address it in a thoughtful way that also speaks to conservation,” he said.
Interisano told a story of when his brother was walking his small dog in Butler’s Barracks and encountered a coyote.
“For him it was a traumatic experience, but for me, there’s a split emotion,” Interisano said.
“Of course, I have empathy for my brother and his dog. God forbid something worse didn’t happen. At the same time, the coyote is just doing what it’s born to do — to survive.”
Interisano said there are things people can learn to prevent coyote attacks — for example, taking extra precautions during the springtime when coyote puppies are born.
A hobby photographer, Interisano had always been interested in wildlife, he said.
“I really didn’t pick up my first camera until 2018.”
But around 2021, after getting lots of positive feedback on his work, Interisano decided to upgrade his camera gear and get more involved in the art form.
“It’s all taken off from there,” he said.
With the same coyote photo, Interisano has taken home the overall win for an urban wildlife photography award from Picfair.
“I’ve won a couple of smaller contests with Tourism Saksatchewan, I won the wildlife award with a bison photo,” Interisano said.
He’s also featured in a new book, titled “Accidentally Wes Anderson Adventures” including an image taken of the Kinsmen Scout Hall in Old Town.
“I love a lot of Wes Anderson’s films. I like the pastel, symmetrical feelings, so for me, that was an opportunity to practice other types of photography.”
The last few years have been busy for Interisano and he has recently moved up to Creemore, Ont. where he takes photos of bees, wasps and other insects — meanwhile, still keeping an eye out for coyotes.
To check out more of his photos, check out Interisano’s Instagram @theotterbiography.
For more information about the winning entries in the contest, and the upcoming exhibition, check out the Oct. 9 press release at rom.on.ca/en/
