
Welcome to Hidden Tracks Photography
Hi, I'm Penny Hegyi.
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I'm a wildlife photographer, filmmaker, storyteller, and Certified Master Naturalist based in Lolo, Montana. Through Hidden Tracks Photography, I share images, films, and stories from Yellowstone and the American West to Patagonia, Uganda, India, and Africa.
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My passion for wildlife is rooted in curiosity and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Whether I'm watching coyotes in Yellowstone, trekking with mountain gorillas in Uganda, or exploring wild places closer to home, I'm continually drawn to the mystery of discovery and the possibility of what might be waiting around the next bend in the trail.
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As a graduate of the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, I have had my work featured by Montana Outdoors, Vital Ground, Bear Trust International, Montana Press, Montana Wild, and other conservation organizations. My photography has also been recognized as a National Geographic Editor's Choice selection.
Why Hidden Tracks?
The name Hidden Tracks comes from what draws me into the natural world in the first place: the mystery of what might be waiting around the next bend.
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A track in the snow, a trail through tall grass, a movement in the distance. Each sign tells a story, but never the whole story. Sometimes the track leads to an unforgettable wildlife encounter. Sometimes it leads nowhere at all.
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And that's part of the magic.
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For me, wildlife photography isn't just about capturing an image. It's about following clues, asking questions, and remaining open to wonder. The search itself is often as rewarding as the photograph.
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Hidden Tracks Photography began with a simple realization: what excites me most is not knowing. A fresh set of tracks in the snow. A distant shape on a ridgeline. A sound in the woods that makes me stop and listen. The promise of discovery is what keeps drawing me back outside.
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Sometimes there is an animal at the end of the trail. Sometimes there isn't. But every track tells a story, and every search deepens my connection to the natural world.
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Through Hidden Tracks Photography, I share images, films, and stories from wild places near and far. Whether I'm standing in Yellowstone before dawn, searching for wildlife in Patagonia, trekking with mountain gorillas in Uganda, traveling through India, or witnessing the untamed beauty of Africa, I am continually drawn by the mystery of what lies beyond the next bend in the trail.
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There may or may not be an animal at the end of the track, but the wonder has always been in following it.
Credentials and Recognitions
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Certified Master Naturalist
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Rocky Mountain School of Photography Graduate
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OWAA Member
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Nikon Professional Services Member
Publications and Features
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National Geographic Editor's Choice
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Montana Outdoors
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Montana Press
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Vital Ground
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Montana Wild
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Bear Trust International
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Providence Montana Health Foundation
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Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative