Stafford Kratz was an amateur Canadian wildlife cinematographer. He spent many years filming mostly birds in Point Pelee National Park and Rondeau Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario.
Using primarily Super 8 cameras and film, Staff spent many summers in Rondeau commencing in 1977. His primary focus was on documenting nesting birds and he would go to great lengths to find nests and set up blinds and towers to work his cameras. Time had no meaning for Staff when he was pursuing a bird that he needed for his film records. Much of his blind and camera equipment was homemade, crafted in his efficient workshop where he would spend many relaxing hours on woodworking or devising mechanical devices for birding. He built his own boats, boat trailer, photo blinds and towers and even altered standard cameras to enhance how he filmed. He was extremely particular in how he edited, spliced and presented his bird films.
Stafford Kratz was a selfless and energetic naturalist who was always ready to spend time with park visitors at Rondeau. He was an avid member of the Sunparlour Nature Club and would tirelessly circuit through other clubs and organizations to show his films. He was an effective ambassador in popularizing birding in Essex and Kent counties, spreading the environmental gospel and mentoring younger naturalists. He was content in spreading the message and didn't seek personal attention. He contributed greatly to the documentation of natural heritage in Rondeau, all as a volunteer.
His films are kept at Point Pelee National Park and in a private collection. The Super 8 medium is much dated now (2014), soundless and requiring long-obsolete projectors. But his films are testaments to his dedication and are important keystone records of avifauna in Rondeau and Point Pelee.
Staff married his wife Ruth late in life. He served with the Canadian forces during World War II, part of the time in Newfoundland.
Stafford Kratz was a gentleman who is missed and remembered.
[Thanks to P. Allen Woodliffe for information used in this tribute and for helping locate the attached photographs of his old friend and mentor Staff Kratz.]
Using primarily Super 8 cameras and film, Staff spent many summers in Rondeau commencing in 1977. His primary focus was on documenting nesting birds and he would go to great lengths to find nests and set up blinds and towers to work his cameras. Time had no meaning for Staff when he was pursuing a bird that he needed for his film records. Much of his blind and camera equipment was homemade, crafted in his efficient workshop where he would spend many relaxing hours on woodworking or devising mechanical devices for birding. He built his own boats, boat trailer, photo blinds and towers and even altered standard cameras to enhance how he filmed. He was extremely particular in how he edited, spliced and presented his bird films.
Stafford Kratz was a selfless and energetic naturalist who was always ready to spend time with park visitors at Rondeau. He was an avid member of the Sunparlour Nature Club and would tirelessly circuit through other clubs and organizations to show his films. He was an effective ambassador in popularizing birding in Essex and Kent counties, spreading the environmental gospel and mentoring younger naturalists. He was content in spreading the message and didn't seek personal attention. He contributed greatly to the documentation of natural heritage in Rondeau, all as a volunteer.
His films are kept at Point Pelee National Park and in a private collection. The Super 8 medium is much dated now (2014), soundless and requiring long-obsolete projectors. But his films are testaments to his dedication and are important keystone records of avifauna in Rondeau and Point Pelee.
Staff married his wife Ruth late in life. He served with the Canadian forces during World War II, part of the time in Newfoundland.
Stafford Kratz was a gentleman who is missed and remembered.
[Thanks to P. Allen Woodliffe for information used in this tribute and for helping locate the attached photographs of his old friend and mentor Staff Kratz.]
Stafford Kratz was an amateur Canadian wildlife cinematographer. He spent many years filming mostly birds in Point Pelee National Park and Rondeau Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario.
Using primarily Super 8 cameras and film, Staff spent many summers in Rondeau commencing in 1977. His primary focus was on documenting nesting birds and he would go to great lengths to find nests and set up blinds and towers to work his cameras. Time had no meaning for Staff when he was pursuing a bird that he needed for his film records. Much of his blind and camera equipment was homemade, crafted in his efficient workshop where he would spend many relaxing hours on woodworking or devising mechanical devices for birding. He built his own boats, boat trailer, photo blinds and towers and even altered standard cameras to enhance how he filmed. He was extremely particular in how he edited, spliced and presented his bird films.
Stafford Kratz was a selfless and energetic naturalist who was always ready to spend time with park visitors at Rondeau. He was an avid member of the Sunparlour Nature Club and would tirelessly circuit through other clubs and organizations to show his films. He was an effective ambassador in popularizing birding in Essex and Kent counties, spreading the environmental gospel and mentoring younger naturalists. He was content in spreading the message and didn't seek personal attention. He contributed greatly to the documentation of natural heritage in Rondeau, all as a volunteer.
His films are kept at Point Pelee National Park and in a private collection. The Super 8 medium is much dated now (2014), soundless and requiring long-obsolete projectors. But his films are testaments to his dedication and are important keystone records of avifauna in Rondeau and Point Pelee.
Staff married his wife Ruth late in life. He served with the Canadian forces during World War II, part of the time in Newfoundland.
Stafford Kratz was a gentleman who is missed and remembered.
[Thanks to P. Allen Woodliffe for information used in this tribute and for helping locate the attached photographs of his old friend and mentor Staff Kratz.]
Using primarily Super 8 cameras and film, Staff spent many summers in Rondeau commencing in 1977. His primary focus was on documenting nesting birds and he would go to great lengths to find nests and set up blinds and towers to work his cameras. Time had no meaning for Staff when he was pursuing a bird that he needed for his film records. Much of his blind and camera equipment was homemade, crafted in his efficient workshop where he would spend many relaxing hours on woodworking or devising mechanical devices for birding. He built his own boats, boat trailer, photo blinds and towers and even altered standard cameras to enhance how he filmed. He was extremely particular in how he edited, spliced and presented his bird films.
Stafford Kratz was a selfless and energetic naturalist who was always ready to spend time with park visitors at Rondeau. He was an avid member of the Sunparlour Nature Club and would tirelessly circuit through other clubs and organizations to show his films. He was an effective ambassador in popularizing birding in Essex and Kent counties, spreading the environmental gospel and mentoring younger naturalists. He was content in spreading the message and didn't seek personal attention. He contributed greatly to the documentation of natural heritage in Rondeau, all as a volunteer.
His films are kept at Point Pelee National Park and in a private collection. The Super 8 medium is much dated now (2014), soundless and requiring long-obsolete projectors. But his films are testaments to his dedication and are important keystone records of avifauna in Rondeau and Point Pelee.
Staff married his wife Ruth late in life. He served with the Canadian forces during World War II, part of the time in Newfoundland.
Stafford Kratz was a gentleman who is missed and remembered.
[Thanks to P. Allen Woodliffe for information used in this tribute and for helping locate the attached photographs of his old friend and mentor Staff Kratz.]
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