On August 11th, Girls Who Click held an inspiring Photography Workshop in Vancouver, Canada, led by our Partner Photographer, Gunjan Menon. This free outdoor session offered 13 to 18-year-old girls a chance to explore the basics of nature and wildlife photography in a welcoming and supportive environment. Gunjan, an award-winning conservation filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer invited girls who want to learn to click to Stanley Park, a hidden gem teeming with urban wildlife in Vancouver, Canada.
Here is what Gunjan had to say about the day:
What is your gift to the world?
We wanted to host this workshop to help young girls learn the basics of nature photography hands-on and learn what it takes to become conservation storytellers. We encouraged BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth to join us, and thanks to Girls Who Click, Shelley Khunkhun and Beyond Premieres, we were able to provide cameras for those who didn’t have access, breaking down any barriers to participation.
We were fortunate to have the wonderful Melissa Hafting, a wildlife ecologist and the founder of BC Young Birders, to lead our bird walk. Melissa’s passion for birds is contagious, and she is renowned and loved as a bird expert in British Columbia. Shelley Khunkhun, an environmental photographer and UBC Masters student, also joined us and volunteered her time and camera for the participants. We’re deeply grateful to both Melissa and Shelley for joining us and spending their Sunday with our young photographers.
Photos by Shelley Khunkhun
Close one eye, make a frame with your fingers and look around!
We began by looking at the world around us through this “frame”, encouraging the girls to start thinking like photographers. We then moved on to the technical aspects, we covered shot sizes, composition, and framing, encouraging the girls to experiment with different angles and become comfortable with their camera settings.
The girls soon turned their lenses to the cool birdlife in the park, capturing stunning and rare moments—some holding a camera for the first time. We had a discussion about the ethics of wildlife photography, emphasizing the importance of respecting animals and telling compelling conservation stories. Melissa, with her deep knowledge of Stanley Park’s ecosystem, introduced the group to a variety of birds. We were on the lookout for the elusive Northern Waterthrush. Someone had sighted it in the area and we could all hear it, but somehow not see it!
Anica and Sunny in the meantime, were quick to spot a Black-throated Gray Warbler bathing in Ceperley Creek—a perfect moment to discuss lighting and composition. The girls also marveled at a Western Flycatcher and Willow Flycatcher sparring, and the playful flocks of Bushtits flitting about. Throughout the day, we worked closely with the girls, helping them fine-tune their camera settings and perfect their shots. While exposure proved tricky for some, their skills were visibly improving. The most important aspect of wildlife photography — patience — was also practiced (and tested).
After the bird walk, we regrouped to explore what makes a strong story. The task was to pick one bird species and capture its story through a series of photos. But being mindful of the birds’ natural behaviour was key. The big moment came when Naomi photographed the elusive Northern Waterthrush bobbing its tail by the muddy banks—a “lifer” for all the girls. Sunny managed to photograph a Merlin with a catch! They also witnessed an immature Green Heron catch and eat a frog, a scene many were able to capture, including the youngest participant — Armita. Nicole made a really interesting photograph of the heron hiding behind a rock just before striking its prey.
Melissa, Shelley, and I were there to answer any questions as the girls worked on their assignments, and I couldn’t help but feel proud of their growing confidence.
We sat in a circle under a famous old tree and each girl presented her photo story, choosing seven images to convey their message. The series on a Green Heron stalking its prey was particularly striking, illustrating how photography can evoke emotion and tell a deeper story. One participant even used a smartphone to capture her images, proving that the heart of storytelling isn’t always in the tools but the vision behind them. Kate and Annica surprised me by wanting to create stories about Canada geese and not the rarer birds in the park, which showed their inclination to practice their newly learnt photography and storytelling techniques on a subject they were familiar with, could get closer to and creatively see them with a new perspective. I was really impressed by everyone’s clarity of vision and thought process that went into creating these photo stories.
In the end, we discussed questions about various cameras, careers in wildlife, photography techniques, tips and tricks and shared feedback on the photo stories.
As the day ended, Melissa informed us we’d spotted an impressive 43 bird species!
A massive thanks to Melissa Hafting for leading the bird walk, and to Shelley Khunkhun and Saiyam Wakchaure from Beyond Premieres for their invaluable help throughout the day. This workshop was a memorable step in these young photographers’ journeys, and I can’t wait to see where their newfound skills will take them
