We are thrilled to introduce you to the 2021 Girls Who Click Ambassadors. Selected from over 150 applicants, these 24 talented female-identified nature photographers and videographers have skill and grit that humbled our selection committee. They range from age 16-30, come from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and they hail from all over the globe. These Ambassadors are motivated to break into the professional industry while advocating for conservation efforts worldwide. We cannot wait to see what they accomplish during their year as Ambassadors!
Cherrisse Adlawan, PHL Emma Balunek, USA Tamara Blazquez Haik , MEX Celina Chien, CAN/NDL Jo Davenport, GBR Alena Ebeling-Schuld, CAN Stephanie Foote, GBR Elie Gordon, GBR Sadie Hine, USA Beth Hotchkiss, USA Chelsea Mayer, USA Irene Mendez Cruz, FRA/VEN/GBR Lea Milde, DEU Angelica Mills, ZAF Lianna Nixon, USA Daphne P, USA Alejandra Potter, ESP/USA Evelyn Smalley, GBR Aishwarya Sridhar, IND Samantha Stephens, CAN Alice Sun, CAN Alex Traugot, USA Kate Vylet, USA Katie Waddington, FRA/GBR
We cannot wait to see what these talented young photographers accomplish in their year as Ambassadors!
Each Ambassador has been paired with an established professional photographer who will help her take the next step in her career. These exceptional Girls Who Click partner photographers are the backbone of the Ambassador Program and we salute them for their dedication and service to the next generation of female-identified photographers.
GWC partner photographer Katie Schuler and her mentee, Ambassador Stephanie Foote, have already gotten started!
2021 Ambassador Mentors
Karine Aigner Diana Caballero Alvarado Inka Cresswell Suzi Eszterhas Melissa Farlow Cathy Hart Morgan Heim Jaymi Heimbuch Esther Horvath Karen Kasmauski Janet Kleyn Jennifer Leigh Warner Stephanie Manuel Amy Marquis Mary Ann McDonald Susan McElhinney Joanna Pinneo Erin Ranney Lynda Richardson Katie Schuler Brenda Tharp Ami Vitale Michele Westmorland
Thank you for being a member of the Girls Who Click community. If you love what we do, please consider donating!
It seems like everyone has been getting into bird-watching and bird photography lately.
“Wow! I recently decided to become a bird nerd, and I am so happy I did!” says a comment on an Audubon article.
“I think I’ve caught the birding bug?” says a Facebook post with a slew with bird photos.
So what’s the deal with birds? Why do humans find so much joy in watching and photographing these little dinosaurs? To find the answer, we have to travel back to the beginning.
How did it all begin?
Back in the Victorian era, birding used to be about hunting and obtaining skins, feathers, and eggs, identifying and photographing the bird after it’s been shot. It was mostly a hobby reserved for wealthy collectors, a way for them to gather and document as many species as possible and understand more about taxonomy and natural history.
But things started changing in the late 19th century to early 20th century.
First, the advancement of optics and field guides made watching live birds more popular and accessible. The earliest field guide in the US was “Birds through an Opera Glass”, published in 1889 by Florence Bailey. But the boom in birding was largely credited to the development of binoculars in World War II, as well as Roger Tory Peterson’s field guide in 1934, which used colored plates and grouped similar species together.
Second, faster photography emulsions and quicker shutters developed in the late 1800s, allowing bird photographers to work in the field. In fact, bird photography was the first form of wildlife photography, where the oldest surviving photograph of a wild animal is of a white stork on its nest in Strasbourg in 1870, photographed by Charles A Hewins.
Birding in the early 1800’s was mostly about collecting and cataloguing as many skins, feathers, and eggs of exotic birds as possible. Illustration by Henry Seebohm Illustration from Eggs of British Birds 1896
Third, organizations like Audubon (US) and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) started rallying for the protection of birds in the late 19th century, pushing people to observe and photograph live birds. This was a big turning point for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts, as it introduced the element of science-based conservation.
As a result of these three changes, birding was no longer just a numbers game, no longer an elite group of wealthy people comparing how many birds they have in their collection. It now included millions of people who are passionate about natural history, photography, and conservation, united into a national network.
And the birding community keeps growing and diversifying, even to today. The development of superzoom cameras and smaller binoculars resulted in the rise of the casual backyard birder and the bird-loving family. The birth of platforms like eBird and iNaturalist created the passionate citizen scientist. The proliferation of social media has generated a hub for young teenage birders. Even more recently, black birders have been rising up, leading initiatives like #BlackBirdersWeek in response to recent events with Christian Cooper in Central Park and the #BlackLivesMatter movement (although there are still many barriers that minorities face in birding and photography, but that’s another blog).
American Oystercatcher and chick. Photo by Denise Ippolito
Present day
One reason, especially today, that resonates with a lot of people is the ever-growing conversation of birding’s mental and physical health benefits. And this has led to the most recent explosion of new birders and photographers during this pandemic.
For example, there’s a concept in the birding world called a “bird sit”, which is like an outdoor meditation but with a focus on birds. This Audubon article details how to do a bird sit, but essentially, it requires you to sit, breath, immerse yourself into the birds you hear and see around you, and ask questions about why birds are doing what they do.
Doing something like a bird sit can help those starting out with photography.Melissa Groo, renowned wildlife photographer and contributor to Audubon Magazine, comments: “I will spend time in sit spots because, as a wildlife photographer, it’s a wonderful way to figure out whether a location is a good spot for me to return to with my camera. For instance, are there particular species of birds there that I’m interested in, that seem to be on territory? How does the light fall on the scene as the position of the sun changes? It’s fun to visit your sit spot during different seasons so you can track the changes in the habits, species composition, and appearance of the wild animals there, as well as the changes in the vegetation.”
Denise Ippolito, award-winning bird photographer and GWC partner, also speaks to the importance of understanding behaviour when photographing birds. “You don’t want to intimidate or frighten the birds. You will need to approach slowly and quietly. Every bird, animal and even human will have their own buffer zone—a space around them that is their own safe space that no other can invade.”
Snowy Egret. Photo by Melissa Groo
However, a bird sit also goes beyond that, “Spending time in a thoughtfully-chosen sit spot is a great strategy for anyone who wants to really become enmeshed in a natural scene. It’s terrific for bird lovers, wildlife watchers, photographers. And, really, for anyone seeking the serenity and purity of nature.” says Melissa.
Birding is for anyone seeking serenity and purity of nature.
That is the key message. Birds reconnect us back to nature, reconnects us to the living breathing lives that surround us, reconnects us to the world beyond our cluttered brains. That is, deep down, why birding has been such a popular and long-standing activity. And why it’s something that everyone and anyone can be a part of.
Great Horned Owl mother and chick. Photo by Melissa Groo
Want to start birding?
If you want to jump on the birding bandwagon, here are a couple ways to do so.
Second, practice your birding, photography, and mindfulness. Practice everyday. Get to know the birds, camera, and your surroundings.
And finally, do a bird sit. Learn about bird behaviour, and most importantly, build empathy for the subjects around you, and welcome them as friends.
So try it out! And who knows, maybe you’ll turn into a birder.
Southern Rockhopper Penguin. Photo by Denise Ippolito.
Written by Alice Sun
Growing up, Alice’s dream was to become a National Geographic photographer. This passion led her to spend much of her high school years photographing and sharing stories of wildlife in her own backyard, which earned her a spot in the 2016 NANPA High School Scholarship Program. She then went on to pursue a degree in environmental biology and a graduate certificate in environmental visual communication, sharpening her skills and building a foundation for a career in visual storytelling. Today, she is a freelance science communicator and conservation storyteller based in Vancouver, Canada. Inspiring young people to pursue the same dream she had is something that Alice is passionate about, and why she’s extremely be on the Girls Who Click team! Visit Alice’s website (alicesun.ca) to see the stories she has told over the years.
We are thrilled to introduce the stunning roster of our 2024 Girls Who Click Ambassadors! Following an intensive selection process, we’ve carefully curated a collection of 16 outstanding New Ambassadors and welcomed 22 Continuing Ambassadors from a pool of over 160 fiercely competitive applicants. These adept photographers and videographers, representing diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, add a kaleidoscope of perspectives to our program.
Beyond their technical prowess and dedication to launching their professional photography careers, these creatives are also champions of conservation. We invite you to explore their captivating portfolios and follow their artistic journeys. Supporting these emerging talents not only nurtures their development but also fosters optimism for a luminous future.
Join us in applauding these exceptional ambassadors.
Each Ambassador has been thoughtfully matched with one of our Partner Photographers, forming a dynamic duo poised to hopefully help take their careers to new heights. These amazing individuals, the backbone of the Girls Who Click Ambassador Program, generously contributes their expertise and mentorship, for which we are profoundly grateful.
Beyond personalized guidance, Ambassadors gain access to Girls Who Click’s nature photography workshops and portfolio reviews, chances to utilize the GWC Social Media platform for their own work, and peer-to-peer connection all over the world in Ambassador-Only virtual meet-ups.
Many of our Continuing Ambassadors, some with us since 2021, will continue into leadership roles, embodying the mission of Girls Who Click.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our program sponsor, Gitzo, who are ensuring our Ambassadors receive cutting-edge equipment, hopefully helping them in the field.
As visual storytellers, we can become so focused on the stories of others that we fail to recognize how our own stories affect the work. This workshop will dive deep into questions like, who am I? Where do I come from? How did I get here, and what forces supported and/or challenged that path? By tuning into our own life experiences and perspectives, we connect more deeply to the people and places we focus our cameras on— becoming ambassadors not only of our craft, but of justice and sovereignty, too.
This two hour workshop is on November 4th, 2023 at 10am PT/ 11am MT/ 12pm CST/ 1pm ET/ 17:00 GMT.
This workshop is for girls and female-identified youth ages 13-18. We do make age exceptions for motivated students. This workshop is free.
This post was originally written and published byGitzo.
Girls Who Click
Gitzo has always been committed to nurturing and inspiring nature photographers to grow and take a step further. By collaborating with Girls Who Click, Gitzo extends its mission to empower the next generation of female wildlife photographers.
Beyond broadening Gitzo’s horizons, this partnership also paves the way for a more inclusive and diverse world within nature and wildlife photography.
Nature photography is a way to celebrate and explore the beauty of nature. It’s for anyone with a curiosity and passion for the natural world, who likes creative storytelling and being outdoors. Now, picture a nature photographer out in the field, skillfully planning their shot and maneuvering their gear.
What do they look like? Who do you see? What kinds of stories are they telling about nature?
@aledecoibri
The field of nature and wildlife photography is disproportionately male, and far fewer women than men enter wildlife photo competitions. What factors contribute to this phenomenon, why are the numbers of female wildlife photographers limited, and most importantly, is there potential for change soon?
There is nothing inherently gendered about the skills or traits required to be a nature photographer, so why aren’t there more women? While this issue is complex with no simple solution, that doesn’t mean nature photography can’t become a more balanced field. Nature is incredibly diverse and the voices telling the stories of nature should reflect that. That’s where Girls Who Click comes in.
About Girls Who Click
Girls Who Click is a nonprofit organization founded by Suzi Eszterhas, an award-winning wildlife photographer, that is inspiring and empowering girls to develop a lifelong passion for framing the nature around them and striving to protect it. Girls Who Click partners with full-time working professional photographers from around the world to offer free workshops, physical and online, for girls ages 13-18. It also runs an annual mentorship program, the “Ambassador Program”, for young female conservation photographers and videographers ages 16-30.
@beth.hotchkiss.photo
@rylee_jay_photo
The Mission
Girls Who Click’s philosophy is based on the real-life experiences of nature photographers in the industry leading free photography workshops for teen girls, ages 13-18. In-person workshops include a full day of photography instruction, combined with hands-on practice in the field. For photographers who can’t make it to one of the in-person locations, Girls Who Click hosts frequent online workshops, which are accessible worldwide. All the workshops are led by Girls Who Click partner photographers able to share knowledge, experience, and advice about nature photography, from technical skills to artistry and professional development.
Through this collaboration, Gitzo aims to empower and inspire young women to pursue their passion for framing the natural world, breaking down barriers and stereotypes that may have hindered their participation in the past.
By supporting Girls Who Click, Gitzo is not only championing gender equality in photography but also ensuring that fresh perspectives and talents thrive, enriching the field of wildlife and conservation photography for years to come.
@aliciahaydenwildlife
@_miss.v.m_
Ambassadors Mentor Program
Girls Who Click believes that the perspectives behind the lens should be as various as the nature in front of it. This is the reason behind the Ambassador Program, a hands-on mentorship project for female nature photographers and videographers ages 16-30 who seek to take their art to the next level. Ambassadors come from all over the world and different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
What makes the Ambassador Program unique? How does Gitzo enter the game?
Each Ambassador is paired up with a mentor based on their professional and personal goals. During the year-long mentorship, they will virtually meet with their mentor to develop their portfolio, gain key insights on breaking into the industry, and cultivate a network of supportive peers in the photography industry.
Renowned for its commitment to excellence, Gitzo has gone above and beyond by offering top-tier professional gear tailored to support photographersduring the educational program, thereby paving the way for their aspirations. Are you curious about Ambassadors’ works? Keep following us on social media to stay up to date on the partnership.
Join Brenda Tharp in this information-packed online workshop and learn some of the fundamental elements that go into making compelling nature and wildlife photographs. Accompanied by a visual presentation, Brenda will discuss basic equipment needs, camera settings, exposure, what makes a strong composition and how to tell stories in a single or sequence of images. A downloadable PDF of notes will accompany this webinar. Join us and learn what it takes to be an accomplished nature photographer!
Brenda Tharp has been photographing nature and wildlife for over 40 years. She has been published widely in nature magazines and books, calendars, and more, and loves teaching and helping others improve their techniques and personal vision. She is passionate about conservation through photography.
This workshop is on December 2nd, 2023 at 10am PT/ 11am MT/ 12pm CST/ 1pm ET/ 17:00 GMT.
This workshop is for girls and female-identified youth ages 13-18. We do make age exceptions for motivated students. This workshop is free.
Join Alyce Bender for a free online workshop on the 10 Key Principles to Nature Photography. This workshop will take place over Zoom on Wednesday, July 19th at 3:00pm PST/ 5:00 pm CST/ 6:00pm ET.
There are certain principles that, when implemented, elevate an image regardless of the specific genre within nature photography. In this session we will look at these ten key aspects of nature photography, defining them and discussing how to achieve them. By understanding these principles and how they relate to each other, you can further your photography skills in the field and create portfolio-worthy images.
Join Conservation Filmmaker Gunjan Menon in a fun free online workshop to learn how to write and shoot impactful wildlife stories that have the power to make a difference. This workshop will take place over Zoom on Sunday, April 16th at 10am PT/ 12pm CST/ 1pm ET.
Join Mary Ann McDonald for a free online workshop on an Introduction to Photography. This workshop will take place over Zoom on Sunday, May 21st at 10:00am PST/ 12:00 pm CST/ 1:00pm ET.
In this session, Mary Ann will walk us through her career as a wildlife photographer and go over how the use of different exposures, shutter speeds, compositions and ideas can affect the outcome of an image.
Join Inka Cresswell for a free online workshop on Underwater Photography and Filmmaking for Conservation. This workshop will take place over Zoom on Sunday, July 9th at 10am PT/ 12pm CST/ 1pm ET/ 17:00 GMT.
As a Marine Biologist and wildlife filmmaker Inka uses her camera to educate people about our blue spaces. During this workshop she will take you through the basics of underwater camera work and how you can use your camera as a tool to drive conservation action.
Join Kathy Adams Clark for a free online workshop on Butterfly Photography. This workshop will take place over Zoom on Saturday, May 27th at 12:00pm PST/ 2:00 pm CST/ 3:00pm ET.
In this session, Kathy will walk us through butterfly photography and share her experience photographing the subject .
