Nature in focus with the ZEISS Secacam 5 Wide-Angle – In conversation with wildlife photographer Aiko Sukdolak
Aiko Sukdolak, renowned wildlife photographer from Hanover, wants to tell stories from nature with extraordinary perspectives and moments and thus create awareness for species and environmental protection. In our interview, Aiko provides insights into his work and explains how he uses the new ZEISS Secacam 5 Wide-Angle wildlife camera. He talks about his experiences and shows why wildlife cameras not only provide impressive images, but also valuable data for nature conservation and understanding wildlife.
ZEISS: Aiko, how did you get into nature photography and what fascinates you most about it?
Aiko: My love of nature and my love of animals led me to nature photography at an early age. My father had a photo lab at school, so I always had access to cameras and was introduced to photography as a child. My enthusiasm for high-quality and innovative equipment continues to this day. As my family grew, so did my interest in photography, especially animals in nature. One of my first really special moments, which I will probably never forget, was when I was able to observe a doe with three fawns at close range and capture this unique moment and the connection between the mother and her kids. It was an intense moment that really sparked my interest in wildlife and nature photography. For me, nature photography is a valuable way of slowing down in our fast-moving times.
ZEISS: You’ve already mentioned your enthusiasm for the right equipment. That’s why you’ve just moved into a ZEISS wildlife camera. Why and how do you use wildlife cameras for your work?
Aiko: Wildlife cameras are an essential part of my work as they help me to monitor what is happening in my area. They give me information about which species are currently on the move and when. This is essential for planning my observation times. I also use it to monitor special locations, such as badger dens, to find out how many animals live there, how they behave or which exits they use. This information is later helpful for my photography. With the wildlife cameras, I have an undistorted view without my human influence through smells or disturbances that could affect the animals and their behaviour. Last but not least, I also appreciate wildlife cameras to monitor my equipment, especially my DSLR camera traps.
ZEISS: How many cameras do you currently have in use and what do you look out for when installing them?
Aiko: I currently have about ten cameras in use. I use some of them on a long-term basis to obtain information about animal behavior. I place other cameras at game crossings and exits or pools after consultation with the relevant district owners and authorities. It is also important to mark the cameras in case contact needs to be made. When placing the cameras, I make sure that they are in places where I can observe the animals’ behavior without disturbing them. I try to leave as little human scent as possible, touch as little as possible or even intrude into their retreat area. For example, I make sure that I wear rubber boots against the smell or attach the cameras to the burrows early on, before the young animals arrive.
ZEISS: You have already been able to test our new ZEISS Secacam 5 Wide-Angle. What advantages does a wildlife camera with a field of view of 100° offer you compared to other models?
Aiko: With such a wide field of view, I can cover and monitor a much larger area. With the Secacam 5 Wide-Angle, for example, I can keep an eye on several exits of a badger burrow at the same time or, when installing photo traps, the wide field of view increases the chance of getting an animal in the picture. The wide field of view gives me a much greater overview of the habitat than I can achieve with my telephoto lens. The wide-angle lens also definitely brings further advantages for close-up shots, for example directly in front of a burrow exit.
ZEISS: Are there also challenges with a wide-angle wildlife camera?
Aiko: A wider field of view naturally also brings challenges, such as a reduced flash range at the edge of the image. It can also be more difficult to reliably recognise animals if there are several in the picture. Fortunately, the ZEISS AI animal recognition system comes to the rescue. This also makes it easy to identify overlaps or animals that are not top-lit.
ZEISS: What were your first experiences with the new ZEISS Secacam 5 Wide-Angle?
Aiko: Right from the start, I was impressed by the reliable transmission capability. This is a great added value, as it allows me to plan my hunts better without having to manually read out the SD cards and spread traces and odours that could irritate the animals. The app also offers many setting options from a distance. The image quality and light sensitivity are also excellent, so I have already been able to collect numerous informative images and data.
ZEISS: What do you do with the data and images you collect?
Aiko: Wildlife cameras allow me to observe animals in their natural environment without disturbing them. This allows me to document their natural behaviour and collect valuable data without having to be on site all the time. I use the data and images I collect to expand my knowledge of the animals and their behaviour. They also serve to support nature conservation projects and raise public awareness of rare forest dwellers. Through photography, people can gain insights into nature and develop an awareness of the need to protect these habitats.
Together with a conservation organisation, for example, I collect monitoring data on the increasingly rare wildcat. With the help of the wildlife cameras, we can get an overview of where the wildcats are located and where it is worthwhile to carry out lure stick mapping.
I managed to take a particularly impressive picture of a wild cat passing a badger’s burrow. It later turned out that the same cat had young in the badger’s den. Such images are not only fascinating, but also provide valuable information for nature conservation.
With my work and my pictures, I want to inspire people not only to recognise nature and its diversity, but also to appreciate it. Modern and innovative equipment, such as the ZEISS wildlife cameras, help me to make my contribution to nature conservation.
ZEISS Secacam 5 Wide-Angle | SC-000-110-100
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