Welcome to Part 5 of our GWC Ambassador series! In this post, we feature three more talented photographers in the program. Read on to learn more about their inspiring work.
Make sure to check out the rest of the series on our blog.
Featured in this blog:
Evelyn Smalley
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
After having the wonderful opportunity to experience Southern Africa at a young age, I knew for my sanity I needed to spend the rest of my life working in the remote places of the world surrounded by nature. It therefore seemed logical to apply to the BSc Zoology in Manchester’s concrete jungle. Whilst day-to-day life is pretty nature deprived, I have been able to travel across the world for various field courses and placements, teaching myself how to navigate a camera along the way.
Only now after four years have I realised I actually have an aversion to everything statistical. Whilst we would be nowhere without science, it’s actually its communication I’m interested in. Instead of being cocooned in a laboratory pumping out research papers, through the lens of a camera I want to share inspiring stories from the front lines of conservation. The visual medium is a formidable, emotive tool that when wielded effectively can galvanise audiences to protect the natural world and the well-being of our species.
2. Why did you apply to the Ambassador Program? What are you hoping to achieve?
I applied to the Girls Who Click Ambassador Program because it’s such an ingenious, empowering initiative that I really wanted to be a part of. But also because I had never had a professional opinion of my photography. It’s lovely when your friends and family give you compliments, but to be accepted onto this program alongside such astonishing women was just insane. Through this mentorship, not only am I hoping to grow as a person and storyteller, but also to build a supportive network of like-minded women who are driven to protect the natural world through the visual medium.
3. Who is your mentor? How has the program helped you?
My mentor is the badass wildlife camera operator Erin Ranney – who can carry her own kit, thank you. Just as she followed in the footsteps of Justine Evans and Sophie Darlington, my dream is to follow in hers. Erin has provided invaluable advice from camera settings to the importance of storytelling. Through our chats Erin has given me much needed confidence in my ability, because of her I actually believe I can become a wildlife filmmaker.
4. What are you up to now? Anything you’re really excited about?
As part of my final year dissertation, I chose a science communication project. For this I had the amazing opportunity to create my first film. The Salamander’s Saviour is a short documentary about the conservation of a critically endangered Mexican salamander by a convent of nuns. Whilst the process was slightly stressful due to COVID restrictions and a complete lack of experience, I’m very proud of the finished product. As I am no longer a student and now just unemployed, I am currently looking for any jobs vaguely wildlife or media-related before applying for UWE’s MA Wildlife Filmmaking.
Samantha Stephens
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Growing up science was my favourite subject in school. Back then, I didn’t realize that there was any other way to turn that passion into a career aside from the obvious choice to pursue an education in science. While studying biology, I became much more interested in communicating science, rather than conducting research. When I heard about the Environmental Visual Communication program, a post-graduate program that teaches those with a background in science to become visual storytellers, I knew right away that that was the career path I wanted to pursue.
I am currently based in Ottawa, Canada, where I grew up, and the majority of my photographic work focuses on wildlife research and conservation local to this area. For the past few years, I have been primarily based at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station, located in Ontario’s iconic Algonquin Provincial Park, where I’ve been documenting various wildlife research projects on turtles, salamanders, wolves and small mammals.
2. Why did you apply to the Ambassador Program? What are you hoping to achieve?
GWC is such an important initiative. I think if something like GWC had existed when I was younger, I would have recognized photography as a career path earlier in my journey. I applied to GWC because I was keen to join a supportive group of women who are empowering each other to become the best visual storytellers we can be. The opportunity to be mentored by a woman photographer who can not only help with the craft of photography itself, but also provide advice and share experiences related to navigating a career in this field is an invaluable opportunity. There’s a lot of variability in what a career in nature/conservation photography can look like, which is exciting, but can also make it difficult to navigate. I hope one day, when I’m further along in my own career, I can be a mentor to a future GWC Ambassador!
3. Who is your mentor? How has the program helped you so far?
My mentor is Morgan Heim. I’ve admired Morgan’s work since I first considered switching from a career in wildlife research to one in photography. Morgan’s work has led to tangible conservation outcomes, and that’s something I aim for with my own projects. I have been working on some long-term photography projects that I’m able to go back and shoot again and again, so Morgan has been helping me think about how I can photograph these stories in different, creative ways and how to build a narrative. She is also helping me learn how to pitch this work to editors.
4. What are you up to now? Anything you’re really excited about?
As I write this, I’m currently in the field, at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station. I’m continuing to document wildlife research projects that take place here and I’m excited to start sharing some of that work soon!
See more of Samantha’s work here.
Emma Balunek
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Growing up I spent almost every weekend outdoors catching newts and fireflies, planting trees, and putting up bird boxes to help restore our family property for wildlife. My affinity for nature continued when I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to study ecosystem science and sustainability. I now work for the Colorado Natural Heritage Program doing field work to conserve Colorado’s ecosystems and species that call them home. Colorado is such a diverse state with mountains on the west and plains on the east. I love being able to go hiking in the mountains and well as explore the plains.
The turning point for me into conservation photography was on a Kids Conservation Photography Workshop in Ecuador. Our project for the trip was to create a photo story. I learned that I could combine two things I loved: conservation and photography. Since then, I have been improving my photography storytelling skills by working on projects near home, specifically with prairie dogs.
2. Why did you apply to the Ambassador Program? What are you hoping to achieve?
I applied to GWC to connect with other women photographers. My mentor has helped me work through story ideas and solve problems that arise. Being a part of GWC has allowed me to build new connections with similar people.
3. Who is your mentor? How has the program helped you?
My mentor is Jaymi Heimbuch. She is the perfect mentor for me because she loves conservation photography and knows how to help others improve. Jaymi has been helpful in talking through ideas about my projects and other photography related topics.
4. What are you up to now? Anything you’re really excited about?
I am working on a camera trap project in the plains focused on a rock pile where a variety of wildlife comes, like golden eagles, badgers, coyotes, and swift foxes. A new addition to my story is a timelapse camera to document what the wildlife experience in a year. I am excited to turn this project into a science communication master’s program in the near future! I am looking forward to learning more about how to communicate science effectively through photos and videos and building photography into my career.
Thanks for reading!
Responses have been edited for length and clarity
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.