Join Janet Kleyn for a free smart-phone photography workshop! Janet is from South Africa (and will be doing the workshop from South Africa!). She is the resident photographer and manager of the photographic concession at Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana. This workshop will take place on Zoom on Saturday, June 27th. This workshop is FREE.
Sign up below!
This workshop is FULL, but you can still add your name to the waiting list by applying below.
Join award-winning author and photographer Amy Gulick for her first online workshop with Girls Who Click! Amy will speak about her life and career as a nature photographer, but you will also learn a thing or two about photography! Download the social media graphic here!
Amy will talk about how to get “from Snapshot to WOW Shot” and will also have a Q&A at the end of her presentation.
This workshop will take place on Zoom on Sunday, June 14th from 2:00 to 3:30pm PDT. This workshop is FREE.
Please fill out the application below and have a parent/guardian send us a liability waiver!
Liability Waiver – Parents/guardians: Please sign (digital signatures OK) & email to info@girlswhoclick.org. Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader and DocHub are examples of free resources that will allow you to sign documents without printing! Girls Who Click does not endorse either of these products.
Amy’s work has been featured in National Wildlife, Sierra, Audubon, and National Geographic Newswatch. She is a columnist for Outdoor Photographer, and a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. Check out her work at www.amygulick.com
Are you feeling uninspired? Is your daily itinerary filled with nothing but lying on the couch all day? Terrified by the doom of the world looming on the horizon, but also feeling powerless because this is just a sign of the greater problem of climate change and ecosystem collapse? Well, this article is for you.
This is a scary time. A lot of us are in tough spots right now and it’s hard to focus on photography. But regardless, we do hope that this blog will bring a bit of light, reignite that creative spark if you will, and remind you of why you started photography and why it’s so important to all of us.
So without further ado, here are 5 creative project ideas that you can do right in your own backyard.
In 2009, Clay Bolt and Niall Benvie founded the Meet Your Neighbours (MYN) project, a photographic initiative that reveals the vital but under-appreciated wildlife that live amongst us. Bolt, a longtime supporter of women in nature photography and Advisory Board Member of Girls Who Click, says the main goal of the project “is to help people connect with the wildlife in their own communities.”
Unlike a lot of wildlife photography, MYN is centred around using an inexpensive field studio, letting the beauty and uniqueness of local species stand out on a pure white background. “One of my personal goals for MYN is to dispel the myth that rarity equates to more important, more amazing, or more beautiful.” says Bolt.
There are conservation photographers all over the world involved with this project, raising awareness for wildlife we often overlook (including GWC’s Karine Aigner). But any passionate photographer is welcomed to join. All you need is a white background, some lights/flashes, and curiosity and empathy for the biodiversity that live around us. Check out this video or the MYN Youtube or this interview from B&H for more information on the project and how to get started with your very own field studio!
Not finding enough diversity in your backyard? You can take matters into your own hands and bring wildlife to you (ethically), and that means creating wildlife habitat.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to set up a bird feeder. Once birds discover a feeder, it can become a site full of diversity and activity, providing perfect photo opportunities.
Before you start, Lynda Richardson advises that it’s important to consider the location of your feeder, both from a photographic and ethics point of view. For example, what’s the light like? Is the background clean? Is there somewhere you can conceal yourself (i.e. being indoors or using a blind) so that you can get amazing behavioral shots without disturbing the subjects? Are there shrubs nearby that birds can shelter in so that they don’t get attacked by sneaky raptors or the neighborhood cat?
Once everything is set up, experiment! Set up a branch so that the birds land on it before going to the feeder. Capture birds in flight. Push the limits of your creativity.
If you have a little more time and resources, you can also make your backyard into a full-blown nature sanctuary, like Mary Ann and Joe McDonald.
Named Hoot Hollow, the McDonald backyard is filled with vernal pools, bird feeders, and a variety of pollinator-friendly plants. “It’s our little piece of heaven here. We can walk right out the back door and photograph.” Mary Ann says, “It’s really cool to be able to get out there and say, ‘Wow, we helped bring them here, because we developed this for them.’ It’s fun to be able to give back so much by creating this habitat.”
To help you get started, Mary Ann has been working hard to create a series of backyard photography tutorials for GWC. At this time, the videos are still being produced, but they will be shared soon.
“This is not your ordinary macro lens. It’s a speciality lens that will photograph from 1:1 life size to 5-times life size.” says Kathy Adams Clark in her latest blog post.
She’s talking about the Canon MP-E 65mm lens she rented. This heavy duty lens even has an extremely shallow depth of field at f/16 and requires a focusing rail. Long story short, it’s not an easy piece of equipment to maneuver.
But with the extra time at home, Kathy was able to test out this lens as well as a few other setups to capture a monarch butterfly egg on a milkweed plant. In doing so, she was able to truly understand the pros and cons between different super-macro photography equipment, and write an awesomely informative blog post about it.
So, if you have a technique you’ve been dying to try out, but have been scared to do so, now is the perfect chance. Whether that’s super macro, studio portrait photography, light painting, etc, go and experiment! If you don’t own the right gear, you can rent some from Borrow Lenses (a company that is a generous sponsor of GWC workshops).
Struggling with ideas? Definitely check out Denise Ippolito’s blog post for fun creative photography techniques you can try at home to create some stunning abstract shots.
If you’re looking to practice your storytelling skills, take this idea from a recent podcast episode of Impact: The Conservation Photographer’s Podcast by Jaymi Heimbuch.
In the episode, Jaymi suggests looking at a familiar place or activity from a new perspective by giving yourself a “photo assignment”. That means looking at your “boring” routine, finding a story, and then shooting it like you would as an assignment for a magazine.
For Jaymi, that “boring” routine was taking her dog to the beach every morning. She figured out what her story was by creating a shot list for her photo essay. And she looked at other photographers for inspiration and ways that she can push her own photography out of her comfort zone.
With a plan in mind, Jaymi went out every morning, same as always, but with a new purpose. Take a look at her results on here, and also give her entire podcast a listen! One of her recent episodes focuses on conservation photography projects you can start today. Another source of inspiration.
Last but not least, photograph what makes you happy. Often, our homes are one of the most special places in our hearts, and the one that we overlook the most. So why not take some time to document it through photography?
So what makes you happy? What are the little joys that are getting you through the day?
Maybe it’s your dog happily bounding in your backyard.
Maybe it’s your second cup of coffee in the morning.
Maybe it’s the warm afternoon sun slanting into your living room.
The important thing is that you now have the time to look and experience the magic all over again.
As Brenda Tharp says in her blog post about “The Value of Home”: “Sometimes after coming home I see more deeply the things in my garden, and around my neighborhood. I view it with fresh eyes – eyes that have been ‘washed’ with nature’s beauty elsewhere are now able to see a-new the beauty right around me.”
So stop, look closely and remember. Remember the things that made you feel light. Remember the small wonders that captivated your mind.
And capture it. Because ultimately, isn’t that what photography is all about?
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.
“From a small wildflower or bug, to a grand landscape, to moments with animals, Brenda will discuss simple ways to make your pictures the best they can be!”
Join Brenda Tharp for her first online workshop with Girls Who Click. Brenda will teach you “Five Steps to Great Nature Pictures.”
This workshop will take place on Zoom on Sunday, June 7th at 2pm PDT. This workshop is FREE.
Fill out the application below to register for the workshop. We look forward to having you with us!
Online workshop with on photographing marine wildlife! Join marine wildlife photography expert Jennifer Leigh Warner as she discusses how to make great photos of marine wildlife and the relationship between humans and animals in marine ecosystems.
Workshop is May 23rd at 3PM PDT.
Please fill out the application below and have a parent/guardian send us a liability waiver!
Liability Waiver – Parents/guardians: Please sign (digital signatures OK) & email to info@girlswhoclick.org. Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader and DocHub are examples of free resources that will allow you to sign documents without printing! Girls Who Click does not endorse either of these products.
Mary Ann McDonald is a kick-butt wildlife photographer. She is also quite the chef. Mary Ann and her husband Joe created this cooking video for Girls Who Click. The trail mix recipe is easy to make and delicious!
Mary Ann and Joe run Hoot Hallow Farm. They have many recipes available from the Hoot Hallow Farm Cookbook available on their Facebook Page.
To see what Mary Ann and Joe do when they are not stuck at home, visit their website at https://www.hoothollow.com/.
FULL Join Suzi Eszterhas ONLINE for a presentation and Q&A. This is the SECOND 100% online workshop that we are offering to students. This workshop is FREE for girls and female-identified youth ages 13-18.
The workshop is Saturday April 18, from 3:00-4:00PM PST
This workshop is limited to 15 students, so please complete the application with liability waiver as soon as possible. Text us at 707-200-8133 with questions.
Liability Waiver – Please sign (digital signatures OK) & email to info@girlswhoclick.org. Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader and DocHub are examples of free resources that will allow you to sign documents without printing! Girls Who Click does not endorse either of these products.
We will do the workshop on Zoom and will send you access details when we accept your application.
This workshop is FULL, but you may still fill out our contact form so we can let you know when our next workshop will be!
[contact-form-7 id=”2545″ title=”Contact Girls Who Click”]
March is Women’s History Month, so what better time than to explore the history of women in nature photography? So, let’s dive in.
Our story begins with Constance Fox Talbott (1811–1880), the wife of inventor Henry Fox Talbott. Working alongside her husband, Constance briefly experimented with the photographic process, creating a handful of hazy images. Her earliest surviving image was taken in 1839, making her what we believe to be the first woman to ever take a photograph.
The title of the first female photographer, however, would go to Anna Atkins (1799–1871), as she pursued photography more seriously. Anna was also a friend of Henry Fox Talbott, and worked especially in botany. Throughout her career, she produced a collection of haunting beautiful images of plants, which she published as a book in 1843 titled: ‘Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions’.
Note that for both of these women, their pursuits in photography was because they were close to Henry. This was the case for most women at the time, where many would-be professional photographers work in studios alongside their husbands, brothers, or friends.
But photography, unlike other arts, required little formal training, and the basic equipment only needed a moderate investment. As a result, by the mid-1800’s, many middle-class women were able to set up their own “daguerreotype studios”. Some took over their husband’s business after their deaths, like Geneviève Élisabeth Disdéri (1817–1878), whereas others like Thora Hallager (1821-1884) started their own successful businesses from scratch.
As time went on, women were also able to rise to the top of their field, as they had a knack for certain things that men did not. Notably, female photographers were especially successful with portraits of women and families. One of those photographers was Alice Hughes (1857–1939), who was a leader in her work with royalty, fashionable women and children.
By the end of the 19th century, women were well-established in studio photography. In 1897, Ladies Home Journal published an article called ‘What a Woman Can Do with a Camera’, And in 1900, British and American censuses estimated that there were more than 7000 professional female photographers, making up 20% of all photographers. This was astounding, especially for a time where the only choices for most women were either staying at home or working in the service industry.
In 1914, National Geographic featured its first ever images from a woman. They were taken by Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore for a story of Japan, which made magazine editor Gilbert Grosvenor comment, “Women often see things about the life and ways of people which a man would not notice …”
Due to this ability to see the world differently, women have accomplished many things in photojournalism since then.
The most well-known example is Dorothea Lange (1895–1965), who created her iconic image ‘Migrant Mother’ in 1936, later becoming one of the most reproduced photographs in the world. Gerda Taro (1910–1937), one of the first female war photographers, was especially celebrated for her intimate and emotional images of the Spanish Civil War. In 1954, Virgina Schau (1915–1989) became the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Photography for her gripping photo “Rescue on Pit River Bridge”.
Wildlife photography, on the other hand, wasn’t really a popular hobby with anyone prior to the 1960’s. Gear was simply too cumbersome, restricting photographers to static subjects like nesting birds. Even a safari shoot needed someone to hire an entire expedition crew for it to be possible. It wasn’t until 1963, when the 35mm film camera became more automated, that wildlife photography became much more accessible and widespread.
But women didn’t start becoming prominent in the field until many years afterwards.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition saw its first female winner, Cherry Alexander, in 1995, followed by Angela Scott in 2002. Pioneers in conservation storytelling also started to make their mark in the 1980’s and 90’s, such as Beverly Joubert, Tui de Roy, GWC partner photographer Mary Ann McDonald, and Melissa Farlow, a GWC partner photographer whose images have transformed our understanding of the people, landscape, and environmental issues of the American West. These trailblazing women continue to create powerful images of wildlife and conservation to this day.
By the beginning of the 21st century, a small number of women were relatively well-established in wildlife and nature photography. Many female photographers, including a number of GWC partner photographers such as Ami Vitale and Jaymi Heimbuch, got their start in their careers around this time. Through their lenses, they brought poignant images full of emotion and soul to the world, changing how we saw our relationship with wildlife and important conservation issues.
Some notable female photographers founded organizations in the industry, where Cristina Mittermeier, with the help of GWC partner photographers Cathy Hart, Amy Gulick, Michele Westmorland, and Karen Kasmauski, founded International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) in 2005 and solidified conservation visual storytelling as a discipline. In 2017, Suzi Eszterhas founded Girls Who Click, where we guide the next generation of powerful female photographers to one day make history of their own.
Even more recently, women’s voices have been getting louder. Passionate young women have been flooding social media with images documenting our natural world, such as Ashleigh Scully and Erin Ranney. Not only that, we’ve also been seeing more diversity, as minorities like Celina Chien and Rathika Ramasamy have been able to gain international reputations in wildlife photography and visual storytelling. However, we still do not see many women of color among the mostly white female photographers. This year, GWC looks forward to interviewing trailblazing photographer Karen Kasmauski on this very important topic!
Today, only 20% of all photojournalists are female, and unlike the early 1900’s, now is a time where women can choose their professions. The number for wildlife photography is likely even lower, as many say that nature photography still remains an “old male” world. The landscape is also predominantly white, a place where few minorities have broken into.
But if this timeline reveals anything, it’s that change is possible.
Just look at how far we’ve come since that first click of a shutter by Constance Talbott in 1839. We’ve had women who started their own businesses in a time where it wasn’t possible for many. We’ve had women that created powerful images that changed our perspectives. We’ve had women that revolutionized the entire industry.
So here’s to all the pioneers, women that are brave enough to push the boundaries, and the ones that will continue to do so in the future. Let’s take the time to celebrate them, because without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Happy Women’s History Month!
This workshop has a WAITLIST, but we encourage you to submit an application as there are usually a few cancellations!
Join Kathy Adams Clark ONLINE for a workshop on photographing hummingbirds. Kathy is offering 10 FREE spots to Girls Who Click participants. That’s right, this is the FIRST 100% online workshop that we are offering to students. This workshop will also have adult- learners present, but GWC participants can remain anonymous.
The workshop is April 9, from 7:00-8:00PM CDT
This workshop is limited to 10 students, so please complete the application and waivers as soon as possible. Text us at 707-200-8133 with questions. The links to the application documents are below. You can use the form below to get more information!
Liability Waiver (sign and email to info@girlswhoclick.org)
GWC founder Suzi Eszterhas (Suzi Eszterhas Wildlife Photography) wrote “[The article is] about women in wildlife photography and why I founded Girls Who Click. With the current situation across the globe, it is doubtful that anyone will be in their hotels to read it. But I am still so pleased that this kind of magazine would be interested in the issue enough to ask me to write about it. That means that our awareness campaigns are making a difference, and though we have had to cancel recent workshops, I remain so hopeful and proud of this little organization and what we will continue to accomplish.”
You can read the piece online at Four Seasons Magazine’s website!
