About
Hi ~
My name is Christine Antoniuk, and I go by Cat.
behind the
and
of life+wild.
It has always been my destiny to become a wildlife photographer and storyteller, but the journey was circuitous, with numerous detours...
I am globally sourced, locally engaged, and cosmically inspired.
Globally Sourced.
I was born in Germany, and German was my first language, both spoken and written.
A graduate of the University of Washington, my first career was in computers. Past employers include Unisys, Pacific Bell, and Remedy Corporation.
Once I had children, I traded in the corporate track for the title of Domestic Goddess, and also studied interior design at Bellevue College.
But just a few years after we had built a dream home in Gig Harbor, Washington, we found ourselves in Boise – so our children could grow up with their cousins. This short-circuited my interior design education, and instead I switched to freelance graphic design.
At the same time, I focused on poker, spending summers in Las Vegas at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). However, I never really succeeded in that arena, and after playing for nearly three decades, finally threw in the towel in 2022.
A big factor was the realization that every minute spent at a poker table was a minute less that I could devote to my ultimate passion – wildlife.
Locally Engaged.
I currently reside in Boise, Idaho, USA, with my husband, two occasional fledglings, and four very different cats.
I’ve created literature for the Intermountain Bird Observatory, volunteered for the Citizens Climate Lobby, and am now an active member of the Golden Eagle Audubon Society, which is the Southwestern Idaho chapter of the National Audubon Society.
When I am not out and about with my camera, you might find me penning my next story, paddleboarding or shooting pool. I obviously have a penchant for activities that start with the letter “p!”
Cosmically Inspired.
I have been enamored by wildlife my whole life, starting with the stuffed animals that filled my room and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. America’s National Parks also played a major role; hiking and camping were instrumental in shaping my love for nature.
As a kid, I would stare out car windows for hours, hoping to glimpse a bear through the massive trees lining the road. In fact, I still get delirious about wildlife sightings, whether from a car, a boat, a trail, or home. I call it Animal Tourette Syndrome, and others wonder what I’m freaking out about.
Though I only picked up a camera a few years ago (dark rooms always intimidated me), it has become a constant appendage. Every outing is now an opportunity to spotlight the biodiversity of an area, from my backyard to the other side of the globe.
I truly believe that the key to saving the human race lies in creating a stronger bond with our natural environment and recognizing the interdependence we share with every other living creature on this planet.
