Sam Answers Your Questions!

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Carmela asked: What inspired you to do this type of work? when you started this did you expect it was goinig to make a carrer?

Since I was a kid, I’ve always been interested in both nature and video art. Growing up, I was also exposed to a lot of cross-disciplinary work. I think being around that type of work inspired me to combine nature and video art into a single practice. No, when I started doing this, I didn’t expect that my animal-cam videos would end up impacting my (art) career to this degree.

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Bari Owen asked: Hello - I'm here with 7 kids who would love to know how you put the camera on the animals...especially the smaller creatures (like the cricket, spider, scorpion, etc.). I'd like to know too! Were the more wild/dangerous ones sedated in some way? I think it would be nice to see a photo of what they looked like once they were outfitted with their photographic equipment! Thank you!

There is no one method I use to make these videos. Each video shoot is very different from the other. Outfitting a 2000-pound bison with a video camera, for example, presents a different set of challenges than outfitting a falcon with a video camera. In many ways, on each shoot, I must start from scratch to figure how to capture the imagery that I need. Most often, though, I just use a small piece of cloth tape to actually keep the cameras attached to the animals. In the case of the scorpion, tarantula and cricket, I took micro video cameras and stripped them of all their weight. I then attached the remaining lenses and microchips on the backs of the insects. I used protective gloves and tongs to actually place the equipment on the scorpion and tarantula. No, I never sedate any of the animals that I work with. Thanks for your suggestion Bari. I actually only consider the videos to be the final (artistic) product though.

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Debby Davis asked: When did you first get the idea of doing this? Is the idea something that originated in your wondering as a child?

I came up with this idea in graduate school, while studying landscape architecture. I found that the best landscape architects trained themselves to see the terrain as a spatial experience. I think that concept influenced my thinking. I absolutely do think that, on some level, this idea originated from my childhood. I spent a great deal of time playing outside as a kid - building tree forts, catching frogs, etc. Those activities were a big part of my life.

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Jena Morey asked: Hi Sam, We all are wondering two things: First, what is your favorite video clip and second, what is your favorite animal to work with? Thanks, Jena

I don’t really have a favorite clip or animal, but the armadillo cam always makes me smile.

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Glenn Bachmann asked: How did you manage to affix a camera to an alligator? I'd be scared.

For the alligator shoot, I employed an alligator handler to help me wrap a thin rubber strap around the alligator’s back. We then attached a small waterproof camera to the strap.

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Glenn Bachmann asked: More of a suggestion than a question: It would be great to include as part of the installation some photo and video documentary of the process of attaching the cameras to the animals; as well as a display case containing some of the actual cameras used.

Thanks for your suggestion Glenn. I actually only consider the videos to be the final (artistic) product though.

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Emily Andrade asked: How did you begin this kind of work, what kind of degree etc.?

I have an undergraduate degree from The Cooper Union and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota. I began this type of work during my graduate studies. I outfitted a flock of sheep with helmet-mounted video cameras as part of a landscape design project.

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Mikaela asked: Sam, How do you get the camera on an alligator or a wolf? Are you releasing the animals from like taking care of them, or what?

For the alligator shoot, I employed an alligator handler to help me wrap a thin rubber strap around the alligator’s back. We then attached a waterproof camera to the strap. The wolf footage was shot at a wolf rehabilitation facility with the help of a wolf handler. The handler helped me to place micro video cameras on the wolves’ heads. On the bottoms of the cameras we attached small strips of cloth tape. No, I have never been involved in releasing an animal back into the wild.

siera asked: was this fun? how many animals did you do this with?

Yes, I enjoy this type of work. Since 1998, I’ve outfitted over 70 animals and plants with 'helmet-mounted' video cameras. “Nature Holds My Camera” features footage from approximately 20 different animals and plants.

Rachel Fox asked: How did you get the cameras on the insects and how did you get the camera back from them when you were finished?

In the case of the scorpion, tarantula and cricket, I took micro video cameras and stripped them of all their weight. I then attached the remaining lenses and microchips on the backs of the insects. Those cameras were pretty easy to get back. All of the cameras fell off the insects in less than two minutes.

Lucas asked: How did you get so close to all of the animals?

I almost always work with wildlife experts or animal handlers. They help me to figure ways to get close enough to the animals so that I can get a camera on them. Ideally, the procedure goes unnoticed, so that the animals don’t even know that they are participating.

nicholas asked: How do you make these films and how do you find the right animals? How do you get the cameras on and off the animals??

There is no one method that I use to make these films. The cameras are attached to the animals using a variety of techniques. Most often, though, I just use a small piece of cloth tape to keep the cameras attached to the animals. The camera is usually loosely attached and falls off the animals on its’ own. Only occasionally do I have to remove the camera myself. Finding the right animals can be very, very tough. These days, I use the internet to help me search for the right animals/field locations.

Denise Breimeir asked: What other animals would you like to outfit with a camera? How did you get the camera on the crocodile and the buffalo?

There are quite a few other animals that I would like to outfit with a video camera. At the moment, I am very interested in outfitting aquatic animals with ‘helmet-mounted’ video cameras. I will probably start with a trout. For the alligator shoot, I employed an alligator handler to help me wrap a thin rubber strap around the alligator’s back. We then attached a small waterproof camera to the strap. For the buffalo shoot, I employed a buffalo farmer to help me. My buffalo handler was amazing. He had a great rapport with one particular buffalo, it’s like they were best friends. That relationship made my buffalo shoot possible.

Steven Hasty asked: do you know how to shut off the auto focus on the camera you have a great conceptet the the auto focus focus in the animal i cound see the world of the animal

Actually, I don’t use cameras that have an autofocus function. I focus all of my own shots. Most of the time, choosing what to focus on is an aesthetic decision.

Rich G asked: What other types of art forms does Sam work with?

I also work as a landscape designer. Occasionally, I operate a small landscape design company called SEED (Sam Easterson Environmental Design). SEED works only from a palette of native and eco-friendly plants.