Catarinense turns frustration into a hobby and creates a true nature album; PHOTOS

Mauro Schramm’s attentive look in front of the computer as a systems analyst at Furb, in Blumenau, also proved to be effective in observing the world that is “outside” the university, where he has worked for 35 years. After becoming frustrated at not being able to take good pictures of his daughter in school presentations, he decided to study photography.

Mauro just didn’t imagine that the idea — without any relation to his current profession — would become a hitherto unknown talent for men in the IT field. Nor that this new hobby would result in a collection of 600 species of birds that he has already recorded while he ventures through Brazil with a camera in hand. (check out the gallery below).

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Even though he has been practicing the art of photography since 2011, the Blumenau resident still considers himself an amateur in the field. At the time, the interest arose because of little Ana Clara Wehmtuh Schramm, who is currently 21 years old and is studying Architecture and a degree in History, according to her proud father.

— The biggest motivation was because I wanted to record my daughter’s presentations at school and they were always bad. So I needed to find a way to improve this — explains “daddy the owl”.

From then on, Mauro started taking courses and discovered a fascination with nature photography. From birds to stars, he carefully observes the universe that takes him back to his childhood, when he still lived in his hometown, in Gaspar.

Thus, for the man who is now 53 years old, the new hobby appeared as a way of reconnecting with the past, as more than two decades ago Mauro moved to Blumenau and had to leave behind his “breathing” ” in the middle of nature.

— Nature photography goes back to my childhood and adolescence, as I was raised in a rural area, but I ended up losing some of that connection in adult life — he highlights.

See photos already taken by Mauro

Brown Booby in Governador Celso Ramos (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Black-robed Hummingbird in Eldorado (SP) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Little kingfisher in Miranda (MS) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Scarlet Macaw in Jardim (MS) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

White-tailed Nightjar in Uberaba (MG) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Ironworks in Eldorado (SP) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Cinnamon Caburé in Três Barras (SC) (Photo: (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Papa-piri in Mostardas (RS) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Burrowing owl in Tijucas (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Spectacled Widow in Rio Grande (RS) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Teque-teque in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Yellow-fronted Benedito in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Burrowing owl in Tijucas (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Juruva in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Yellow-bellied Murucututu in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Yellow dress in São Joaquim (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Teal in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Socó-boi-baio in Tavares (RS) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Snail Hawk in Mostardas (RS) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Araçari-poca in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Alma-de-gato in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Araponga in Itaiópolis (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Pied Hawk in Eldorado (SP) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Sabiá-una in Blumenau (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Antarctic dove in Governador Celso Ramos (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Chickadee in Rio dos Cedros (SC) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Fried fish in Paula Freitas (PR) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

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In approximately 10 years, the professional says he has captured around 600 different species of birds since the first bird he photographed. The number, in itself, is already surprising, but it becomes even more impressive once you know all the difficulty behind each image.

This is because, even with specialized equipment and the necessary technique, it is not enough to just click the camera button to record. Before that, there is another challenge that needs to be overcome, as Mauro explains: being able to find the species to, finally, photograph them.

But, after all: how do you catch so many “different” birds?

In the beginning, when he started practicing his new hobby, the Blumenau native says he used to record common birds he saw around where he lives. As he specialized, however, Mauro concluded that he could take advantage of his vacation trips with his wife Viviane Wehmuth to try to locate new birds in other parts of the state and regions of Brazil.

In the scripts, he confesses that he tries to include strategic places to see if he “runs into” a bird and manages to get one more record to include in the “virtual album” — the so-called “WikiAves”which is a website aimed at disseminating information about different species and which relies on community participation.

On one of the last trips he made, Mauro took the opportunity to photograph birds in Rio Grande do Sul. Before that, however, the Gaspar native says that he had already traveled to the south of Minas Gerais just to record specific species that live in Uberaba. The place would have been the furthest it has ever been because of the photograph, he also mentions.

It is common, however, for him to also visit the regions of Dr. Pedrinho and Rio dos Cedros, as these are cities where there is a lot of forest and, therefore, the chances of finding birds in more accessible places are greater.

The truth, however, is that any opportunity in nature can yield a good photo if taken at the right time and in the right place, according to Mauro. In simple walks he takes through Parque Ramiro Ruediger, in Blumenau, for example, the man already sees the possibility of obtaining new records and gaining even more knowledge.

— Every now and then I take my camera with me and take the opportunity to take some photos — he comments.

Mauro emphasizes, however, that he does not have any training in the field of biology, nor does he consider himself an ornithologist — a science dedicated to the study of birds. Therefore, in order for him to be able to identify the species during his travels, the systems analyst explains that he usually has the help of tour guides who understand the subject and usually have the answers to his questions at the tip of their tongue.

When there is no help from these professionals, Mauro explains that he tries to recognize birds from photos, using books or specific websites to resolve any doubts.

— But, normally, when we go somewhere, we already know which species will be there and what we intend to photograph — he adds.

On the other hand, some appearances can also surprise the photographer with around 10 years of experience. For him, every path taken to get a photo becomes a true adventure, as you never know what that destination really has in store for you.

— I usually say that I’m in this photography business not for the end, but for the means. In other words, if it takes a good photo it’s a bonus, but the real motivation is to be close to nature, meet people and places. That’s the cool thing,” he says.

The burning question: what is the secret to taking such good photos?

The countless records taken at perfect moments — such as when two macaws fly next to each other or a small bird is caught building its own nest — yield curiosities about the behind-the-scenes of these photos.

In addition to the birds, which are carefully found by the systems analyst, Mauro also shares an interest in another aspect of nature that makes — literally — his eyes shine: the milky way.

With the camera aimed at the stars, he tries to capture the beauty of what is farthest away and, sometimes, goes unnoticed in human beings’ daily lives. For Mauro, this type of recording becomes even more special because it depends on other factors to be made, such as moon lighting and a suitable climate.

Record made in Doutor Pedrinho (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Lençóis Maranhenses (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Lightning record (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Tree frog caught by the photographer (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Abelha (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Gecko (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Spider (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Deer photographed in Uberaba (MG) (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Registration made in Tijucas (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Brasília (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

Atacama Desert (Photo: Mauro Schramm, Disclosure)

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But does not stop there. From a delicate butterfly to a four-eyed spider, Mauro can also capture different details of animals that would not be visible to the naked eye, for example. Whether up close or far away, the photos don’t disappoint.

Asked about the “secret” to obtaining such extraordinary images, however, the systems analyst does not hesitate to confess, laughing:

— I only publish the best ones, actually — reveals the photographer.

But they are good, they are.

*Under the supervision of Augusto Ittner

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