An Eye on the Buffalo

A Conversation with Johane Janelle

For more than a decade, photographer Johane Janelle and her husband, conservationist and author Wes Olson, immersed themselves in the world of bison. The result was The Ecological Buffalo: On the Trail of a Keystone Species, published in 2022. The book is a visually rich and deeply researched exploration of bison as a keystone species and their profound role in shaping North American grassland ecosystems. It took 14 years to complete, and is a reflection of patience, observation, and a willingness to learn directly from the land.

You’ve spent much of your life outdoors. Can you tell us how your path led you to wildlife photography, and eventually to bison?

I grew up in Quebec with a strong sense of wanting to travel. As a young adult, I came west to Alberta because I wanted to horseback ride in the mountains – it was a bucket-list kind of thing. Once I arrived, I fell in love with the landscape and knew I wasn’t going back.

My background was in tourism, and later I studied outdoor recreation in Vancouver. That eventually led me to working with Parks Canada. I became a park interpreter, giving presentations to the public about wildlife and ecosystems. Through that work I met Wes, who later became my husband.

Photography was always there in the background. I loved it as a kid, but I never had formal training; I was self-taught, learning by trial and error. When we began spending so much time around bison, both through our work in national parks and later on our own bison farm, photography naturally became a way of paying closer attention.

How did living so closely with bison change the way you photographed them?

Time is everything. When you’re around bison day after day, you stop reacting and start anticipating. I learned their rhythms, their behavior, and their body language. That understanding allows me to prepare for an image rather than chase it.

One of my core principles is that I never want to disturb what’s happening so I always work with a long lens. If an animal is grazing or lying down, I keep my distance. The goal is to observe without influencing behavior in any way. Respect comes first.

How has your understanding of bison as part of a larger ecosystem evolved?

At first, it really was about making beautiful images…bison on the farm, and then in the National Parks. But once you slow down and truly watch, you start to notice relationships.

For example, we observed one day that the bison cows were eating willow just before calving. That caught our attention. When we researched it further, we learned that willow has properties similar to aspirin – it’s anti-inflammatory and helps with pain. That observation led us to research even more deeply and ask better questions.

Over time, especially while working in Grasslands National Park, we began to understand how many other species rely on bison. Birds, insects, amphibians; so much life is connected to their presence. That realization became central to The Ecological Buffalo. The book isn’t just about bison; it’s about everything that depends on them.

Can you share a moment where your camera led you to an unexpected discovery?

One experience that stands out involved a species at risk – the Mormon metalmark butterfly. A biologist was studying them, and I joined her to photograph the project. While she was counting butterflies, I was on my hands and knees watching them through a macro lens.

I noticed they were laying their eggs under gypsum rocks, which are clear and hold heat. That warmth likely helped the eggs develop. It was something no one had documented before. Because of that observation, the biologist was able to write a small research paper that hadn’t been planned. It was a reminder that careful observation can contribute to science in meaningful ways.

Tell us about that iconic image of the birds nestled on the head of the bison.

That’s an image taken in spring in Grasslands National Park. The bison are shedding their winter coats, and birds gather bison hair for nesting material. They follow the bison, land on their backs (or heads), pick up a few bugs, and get a ride and lunch! In that particular photograph, a male and female of the cowbird species were perched together on the bulls’ head, completely at ease. It speaks so much to how these animals coexist.

What do you hope people take away when they see your photographs?

I hope they slow down. I want people to see bison not as isolated icons, but as contributors—animals that shape landscapes, support biodiversity, and create opportunities for other life to thrive.

None of this comes from a single moment. It’s years of watching, recording, questioning, and learning. Photography, for me, is a way of listening to the land.

Since publishing The Ecological Buffalo, what projects have you been working on?

Wes was hired by the International Buffalo Relations Institute, along with Cody Spencer, to write a book called Guardian of the Buffalo: The Essential Guide for Bison Care. It’s a practical, comprehensive resource for anyone interested in becoming a bison rancher or farmer. It covers everything from fencing and water systems to health and land stewardship, and it’s the first guide of its kind.

What understanding do you hope people take away from your images?

I hope people make an emotional connection with the wildlife I photograph; that the images help people to understand the interconnection that species have with one another, and with nature. They are a part of our life and if we don’t care about them, about the conservation of their habitats, they will not survive.