THEPROINTERVIEW
Working as a cabin crew member has helped Esteban Frey visit some of the world’s richest habitats. Here, he shares his love of adventure, and why wildlife photography is as much about being in the moment as taking beautiful pictures
ALTHOUGH many wildlife photographers work close to home and focus on local species, few can deny the appeal of capturing faraway locations and more exotic creatures. One challenge that nature photographers face is the cost of making trips away, and they often offset this by running workshops abroad or taking paid assignments. Passionate wildlife photographer Esteban Frey has taken a different route, however. For the last six years, he’s worked as a member of an airline cabin crew, and while travelling the world he’s been able to capture some of his best work on his days off.
Taking photos of elusive animals requires time and patience, along with the passion to succeed alongside plenty of competition. Esteban grew up surrounded by family who were equally excited about the outdoors, and he combined his appreciation for nature and love of photography, learning everything he could online to improve his technical skills. Now, after more than 11 years of wildlife photography, Esteban is nearly ready to turn his passion into a profession. We find out what drives him, why Canon is the only brand he’ll use, and why he’s optimistic about the conservation of the natural world.
01 BEAR NECESSITIES
A young female brown bear among cotton grass on a summer evening, in Viiksimo, Finland
Lens Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L USM
Exposure 1/60 sec, f/5.6, ISO800
02 FEATHERED FRIEND
A chestnut-mandibled toucan in San José, Costa Rica
Lens Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Exposure 1/30 sec, f/2, ISO160
03 INTO THE BLUE
A herring gull stands on an iceberg in Jökulsárlón Lagoon, Iceland
Lens Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Exposure 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO100
04 ALL TUSKED UP
A couple of walruses rest on the beach in Svalbard during the polar day
Lens Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM Exposure 1/125 sec, f/6.7, ISO100
Hey, Esteban. Where are you now, and what are you working on?
Since 2018, I have been working as a cabin crew member, a job that has taken me to numerous regions of the world. This has allowed me to explore and document the diverse wildlife of each destination with my ever-present camera. For example, in December 2023, I worked on a flight to Osaka. After asking questions in wildlife photography Facebook groups and searching for wildlife spots on Google Maps, I discovered a location in Kyoto, only 30 minutes by train from Osaka, that is inhabited by snow monkeys. During my three-night layover, I had the amazing opportunity to photograph the spectacular Japanese macaque. In 2024, I am planning to become a full-t
