Recently, I had the chance to give a talk on storytelling through wildlife photography for the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNSRC) Photographic Society, a community for UN staff who are photography enthusiasts.
Preparing for it meant digging back through my archive to find photos that illustrated ideas about light, composition, perspective, and behavior – and it forced me to look at my own images with fresh eyes. What story was I trying to tell? What moments still stay with me? We also talked about things that don’t show up in camera settings: ethics, curiosity, patience, and simply spending time outside paying attention.
A moment that has stayed with me: photographing this Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl in Guatemala along the road – one of the first times I used my OM 150-400mm lens!
Somewhere between putting the presentation together and revisiting old edits, I felt something shift. The process nudged me back into a more creative mindset. Not just chasing technical perfection (which I don’t think I’ve ever achieved anyway!), but thinking more intentionally about emotion and meaning.
Inquisitive Jersey City juvenile kestrels peeking out from their nest site in an abandoned building – a moment from 2021
It caught me off guard, but somehow, a talk I’d initially approached with some trepidation turned out to be… energizing? I’m feeling newly inspired to approach both shooting and editing more intentionally, and with more creativity.
I really appreciated the invitation to speak and am grateful to everyone who joined and asked thoughtful questions. Honestly, teaching others sometimes ends up teaching *you* just as much!
All of these are some of the images I shared during the talk – I don’t think they’ve seen light of day until now!
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- Serendipitous moment of catching this baby spider monkey being silly high up in the canopy
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- A pair of Tree Swallows seemingly yell at each other
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- A tiny Spotted Sandpiper in a big world
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- Bad weather makes for cool photos
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