In the Presence of Wolves

by Art Wolfe

No animal has occupied so central a role in human culture as the wolf, Canis lupus, and for good no animal is quite like our pretechnological selves. Thousands of years ago, before the rise of agriculture and urban civilization, wolves and our forebears lived as social animals in small, free-ranging bands. Both were largely unaffected by predation from competing species; both were commensal, sharing food and friendship; and both were intelligent killers, rarely wanton, rarely wasteful, who relied on a highly evolved program of signals and language to coordinate their efforts.

In the Presence of Wolves presents a surprisingly diverse body of myth, legend, and literature that both illustrates the wolf's importance to human thought and chronicles the wolf's changing fortunes. Art Wolfe brings these legends and folklore alive with a career collection of compelling and vivid images. This creative photographic exploration offers a sweeping but intimate look at the wolf and its environment -- a powerful reminder of how noble and magical this animal can be.

Drawing on the literature and memories of Native American cultures, the mythologies of classical Greece and Rome, the legends of Asian and African gatherer-hunter peoples, and writings by contemporary observers of lupine behavior, Greg McNamee provides a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind anthology of writings about the wolf. In his introduction, McNamee traces the progression of the wolf from companion to competitor, offering a thorough overview of lupine culture that can help us understand Canis lupus as a kindred being.

Hardcover

First published October 31, 1995

About the author

Over the course of his forty year career, photographer Art Wolfe has worked on every continent and in hundreds of locations. His photographs are recognized throughout the world for their mastery of color, composition and perspective. Wolfe's photographic mission is multi-faceted: art, wildlife advocacy, education, and journalism inform his work.

Wolfe is the host of the award-winning television series Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge, an intimate and upbeat series that offers insights on nature, culture, and the realm of digital photography. It now airs worldwide. He was also featured in the 2015 Canon Australia/National Geographic Channel production Tales by Light, now streaming globally on Netflix.

Since his first publication in 1978, Wolfe has released more than 100 books in all editions; 2014 saw the release of his magnum opus Earth Is My Witness; this mega project features Wolfe's favorite photos taken so far and is garnering international accolades and awards. In 2015 it was published by National Geographic in France (Hymne à la Terre) and Germany (Eden). Published in Fall 2021 is Night on Earth.

Numerous US and international museums and galleries have featured monographs of his work as well his traveling exhibitions, Travels to the Edge, and Beyond the Lens. Earth Is My Witness is now a traveling exhibit in Europe. Wolfe has been a contributor to many group exhibitions.

Education is a major component of Wolfe’s work, whether it is about the environment or about photography. He leads photographic tours worldwide and has created the streaming course Pathways to Creativity.

Wolfe's photographs have appeared in the world’s top magazines such as National Geographic, Smithsonian, Audubon, GEO, and Terre Sauvage. Magazines all over the world publish his photographs and stories, and his work is licensed for retail products and advertising, as well as products such as USPS stamps, of which he has three, including the latest Forever Stamp commemorating the US National Parks.

Along with his numerous book and television awards, Wolfe is the proud recipient of the Nature's Best Photographer of the Year Award, the North American Nature Photography Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Photographic Society of America’s Progress Medal. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, and a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Wolfe maintains his office, stock agency, and production company in Seattle, Washington. His fine art work is available online at artwolfe.com.