How Many Wildlife Photographers are there?

[fcotterill]

This question came up in a discussion about the new Z II Nikon cameras. It's an elephant in the room IMHO. The reports below examining the economics of ecotourism and wildlife management suggest the wildlife photography industry is significant, both in numbers and economic worth.

Even if these are that one bucket-list trip to Costa Rica/Antartica/Serengeti/Galapogos there are the regular returnees from first world countries to these destinations - and a substantial percentage are photographers, especially on the infamous African safari, to Serengeti and Kruger, S Africa.

It is very challenging to get reliable numbers over the past few years. This statistic from 2011 stands out - "According to a recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there were 13.9 million wildlife photographers in 2001. By 2011, that number had grown to 25.4 million, an increase of 82%. "

https://www.responsibletravel.org/docs/Market%20Analysis%20of%20Bird-Based%20Tourism.pdf

Even if growth has levelling off over the past decade - this must be a significant proportion of the market for photographic gear - besides binoculars and spotting scopes and a "twitching" camera bought specifically by the more dedicated birdwatchers. A greater proportion appears to be bird photographers, attributed in part to " A number of factors contribute to the growing popularity of bird watching and bird tourism. These include a drop in price of birding equipment such as binoculars and telescopes, the growing number of TV documentaries on birds and other wildlife, and the increasingly sophisticated techniques for filming birds close up and in flight. ".

A couple of reports I read agree UK and Netherlands are the two major source countries of birding tourists outside of N America ie visiting Important Bird Areas overseas as well within their own countries. The above report cites another tourism study reporting ' 3 million international trips (worldwide) are taken each year for the main purpose of bird watching'. A recent economic study of Greater Kruger National Park, S Africa reports SAR2.6 billion [=US$160 million] for 2015/2016, and overnight Photographic Tourists are the greatest component

The real economic value of Greater Kruger National Park - Africa Geographic

A 2020 study has revealed the considerable economic, social and political contributions of the Greater Kruger National Park

africageographic.com

The economics of birding in the US are huge. Its worth was estimated at US$41 billion in 2011 - " U.S. bird watching is $15 billion for trip-related and $26 billion for equipment-related expenditures, generating a total of $41 billion..". Interest is growing in China, and also Taiwan and Southern Africa for example
India https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2014/demo/fhw-11-nat.html

Also see 2016 https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2016/demo/fhw-16-nat.html

 

[DRwyoming]

This question came up in a discussion about the new Z II Nikon cameras. It's an elephant in room IMHO. The reports below aimed at economics of ecotourism and wildlife management suggest the wildlife photography industry is significant.

Interesting data points. I guess from a camera industry perspective the question would be how many other types of photographers (e.g. sports, weddings, portraiture, street photography, journalism, documentary, food, product, etc.) are there? IOW, what percentage of the total addressable enthusiast/pro camera market is represented by nature and wildlife vs all other buyers of high end cameras? Seems to me that has more influence on what features take priority than the raw number of nature and wildlife photogs.

BTW, that 82% growth number mirrors what I've observed in terms of national park wildlife photography over the years. It wasn't that long ago when just a few photographers would stop and work a road side Moose or Bear. Sure plenty of drive by families would stop for a moment, take a look and move on but a decade or two ago there would generally only be a handful that stopped and got out with bigger lenses and worked the light, the scene and waited for a great glance or other activity. These days the wildlife jams often get out of control with a lot more photographers working the scene and an awful lot of folks jumping out with their iPhones. It's definitely increased over the years.

 

[DripDryMcFleye]

Those numbers are what I call "cubic dollars". Interesting report !

 

[fcotterill]

Well one estimate is approx 100 000 pro wedding photographers in the US https://www.slrlounge.com/business-...f-wedding-photographers-in-the-united-states/
and about 30 000 in UK. THese are likely based on registered companies etc
One reads the pro Sports is shrinking compared to some years back.

Pro wildlife industry is smaller and much tougher, although the educator segment has expanded over the past decade eg in Southern Africa but also finite. Nevertheless, the enthusiast/hobbyist/traveller segment buying high end gear must be much larger. High end gear is at least 1 Enthusiast ILC camera or a Pro model eg Nikon D750 / D500 or more eg D850 Z6, with at least 1 telephoto of 400mm or longer focal length eg tele zoom such as 80-400, 200-500 or Sigma/Tamron zoom. Some invest in a prime telephoto.

EDIT A cursory online search suggests the numbers of registered professional photographers is not that large, but there must be many more buying high quality ILC systems to record family events etc - eg weddings, school sports etc let alone travel

eg https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/market-research-reports/photographic-activities-industry/

Maps Showing the Pro Photography Landscape in the United States

What is the current state of the professional photography industry in the United States? Back in April 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released

petapixel.com

 

[Viathelens]

I think "bird watchers" and "bird photographers" may not be one and the same. I take photographs of all kinds of wildlife, but I am not a bird watcher, per se. I went on one bird watching excursion that only lasted an hour or so and I just wanted out of there! I love to photograph wildlife but I am not and will not be a "bird watcher" unless maybe I get too old to do anything else!

 

[DripDryMcFleye]

BTW, that 82% growth number mirrors what I've observed in terms of national park wildlife photography over the years. It wasn't that long ago when just a few photographers would stop and work a road side Moose or Bear.

I've been visiting National Parks for nearly 50 years. I feel very fortunate to have experienced at least some of them before they became so crowded. We now plan our trips with a lot of consideration for being there either early or late in the season so that the crowds will hopefully "only" be around the level we used to see in prime time years ago. The cold, rain and snow of these early / late season adventures reminds us of why most travelers like the summer times.

 

[DRwyoming]

I've been visiting National Parks for nearly 50 years. I feel very fortunate to have experienced at least some of them before they became so crowded. We now plan our trips with a lot of consideration for being there either early or late in the season so that the crowds will hopefully "only" be around the level we used to see in prime time years ago. The cold, rain and snow of these early / late season adventures reminds us of why most travelers like the summer times.

My feelings and strategy exactly!

I live right outside of the Tetons and within a couple of hours of Yellowstone but almost never go up there for photography mid summer anymore as the experience is so much better during quieter seasons.

 

[BillW]

I agree that there is a difference between bird photographers and bird watchers, although there is some overlap. I was initially interested in birds through photography. As a photographer who loves the outdoors, bird photography is great because birds are everywhere, usually interesting, and often challenging to photograph. When I am in someplace new, it is always interesting to see if there are new types of birds to photograph, or even birds I have seen before but in new habitat. Bird photography has also caused me to become more interested in birds, in part through the resources of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. I am not interested in making checklists of what I see, but a photo list can be a lot of fun -- I prefer the best photo I can get, but am still interested in a reference photo of a new species if it is all I can get.

 

[gordon_g]

I've been visiting National Parks for nearly 50 years. I feel very fortunate to have experienced at least some of them before they became so crowded. We now plan our trips with a lot of consideration for being there either early or late in the season so that the crowds will hopefully "only" be around the level we used to see in prime time years ago. The cold, rain and snow of these early / late season adventures reminds us of why most travelers like the summer times.

Same! I love our natural parks.... but thing sure have changed over the years!

 

[Indrajeet Singh]

Bird photographers has seen an over 20 fold increase in numbers in the past 5 years. Wildlife per se is seeing an increase in numbers here, the interest in wildlife tours is growing at a remarkable rate too.

 

[wild-pics]

Where I live in Australia the wildlife and bird photography market is not that large. This would include the number of enthusiast who would travel to photograph wildlife in Africa. However the "Modern Urban" market which covers weddings, fashion, street and general travel is large and has exploded since covid. Some research on this from Nikon this week is on this link:

News | Nikon Australia

The official website of Nikon Australia

mynikonlife.com.au

Nikon is targeting this general market for the Z6ii and Z7ii, as seen in the promotional videos released by Nikon. How I see is Nikon is yet to bring out a mirrorless that is targeted at action/wildlife. The 300 and 500 pf is always out of stock with a long waiting list, while stores have the Z70-200S in stock. This shows that die hard Nikon wildlife enthusiasts are still using DSLRS's.

 

[fcotterill]

Interesting, thanks

".... nature being the most popular category photographed. South Australians have interestingly been taking more photos of their pets than children (41%)..." One wonders what proportions are macros and landscapes versus birds etc ie subjects demanding telephoto reach, where smartphones flounder.

 

[gordon_g]

This shows that die hard Nikon wildlife enthusiasts are still using DSLRS's.

This line is exactly true because the mirrorless cameras are not as good as the DSLR's I think that is why so many are Hoping that with this latest update the gap is starting to close. I'll never switch away from Nikon... But that due more to, I can't afford too than wanting too... But I also think that the current line of DSLR are very good and what REALLY is the advantage to upgrading. For every person to decide I suppose.

 

[wild-pics]

This line is exactly true because the mirrorless cameras are not as good as the DSLR's I think that is why so many are Hoping that with this latest update the gap is starting to close. I'll never switch away from Nikon... But that due more to I cant afford to than wanting too... But I also thing that the current line of DSLR are very good and what REALLY is the advantage to upgrading. For every person to decide I suppose.

I think Nikon is working on some real mirrorless designs for release in the next 2 years or so. I mean real, designs that will replace my D500 in terms of ergonomics, button functionality, AF speed / acquisition, EVF and physical size. It would be great to see some cameras they get Italdesign to design similar to the D4, ie a finely crafted tool. My Z7 is not a tool at all.

 

[Icarus]

Personally, I would have to think long and hard before investing in a mirrorless camera. My D850 does everything I want and need it to do, and probably more.
I would think that the camera market for wildlife is largely driven by amateurs/prosumers who want and can afford high end equipment and would guess that
those photographers are a pretty big proportion of the high end camera body market.

 

[gordon_g]

I think Nikon is working on some real mirrorless designs for release in the next 2 years or so. I mean real, designs that will replace my D500 in terms of ergonomics, button functionality, AF speed / acquisition, EVF and physical size. It would be great to see some cameras they get Italdesign to design similar to the D4, ie a finely crafted tool. My Z7 is not a tool at all.

I don’t doubt that they get there the question is how long and how expensive... sometimes I’m not patient enough for these things to happen.. lol

 

[arbitrage]

I agree that there is a difference between bird photographers and bird watchers, although there is some overlap. I was initially interested in birds through photography. As a photographer who loves the outdoors, bird photography is great because birds are everywhere, usually interesting, and often challenging to photograph. When I am in someplace new, it is always interesting to see if there are new types of birds to photograph, or even birds I have seen before but in new habitat. Bird photography has also caused me to become more interested in birds, in part through the resources of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. I am not interested in making checklists of what I see, but a photo list can be a lot of fun -- I prefer the best photo I can get, but am still interested in a reference photo of a new species if it is all I can get.

My thoughts exactly.