BEYOND THE LENS PRO

Act fast and shop Melissa Groo's limited-edition prints today on the Untamed Photographer website.In May, Microsoft announced plans to retire the Microsoft Academic Graph (MAG) at the end of 2021. If you love Melissa's work as much as we do, you're in luck. By means of world-renowned wildlife photography, their message is heard loud and clear. Thank you for giving a voice to the hundreds of species you've photographed. In your righteous, unending pursuit as a wildlife biographer, you make that choice an obvious one. In dynamic fashion, your photographs draw attention, and the appended context unveils all that is behind and beyond the lens.Īs readers, thankfully exposed to the hard truths and fallacies around our cohabitant relationships, we have a choice-ignore, or protect.

Each photograph and story you publish on Untamed Photographer and Vocal teaches us not only about the struggles, successes, and general nature of your subjects, but about ourselves and our responsibility to do what is objectively right. Melissa, your dedication and passion for wildlife conservation and photography is simply inspiring. That photo and that story-so close to home-have the most special place in my heart. On Which Photograph/Story She's Most Proud of: The top Nat Geo photographers will sometimes have an assistant or two, though even those folks may go unpaid, just helping out for the experience. I have a person who on a very part-time basis does all my print orders for clients, but that’s it. You make much less than you would if you were a wedding photographer, or a commercial photographer. Wildlife photography is not a lucrative profession by any means. And don’t skimp on the tripod! On Her 'Team': Get a good basic camera but spend your best money on good glass-a top of the line lens.

I do think this genre will fully transition to mirrorless systems in the next few years. What’s good for a bird photographer is not the same as what’s best for a wildlife photographer who’s after a wide range of big and small animals. People are hungry for stories, and hungry for knowledge. Engage with and educate your viewers by sharing information about the wildlife you photograph. Know the basic principles, and then riff off of those and create your own style.

BEYOND THE LENS PRO

The oft-quoted line, “Know the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist,” is wise advice. Study the work of the classical artists to see how they use light, color, composition.

Look at the work of other photographers that you admire. On Advice for Wildlife Photographers Looking to Break Into the Industry: When I found photography about a decade ago, I knew I had finally found my calling. Since then, I have pursued many different things in life, from working as a silversmith to a teacher to an elephant researcher. Though my favorite place to be is in the wilderness, I grew up in a very urban setting-New York, New York! My only interactions with wild animals were seeing the pigeons on the street. Enjoy! On Her Background, Upbringing, and Finding Her Calling: In partnership with Untamed Photographer, it's with great pleasure we point the lens back at Melissa in this #BeyondTheLens.

She also received NANPA's biannual Vision Award (now known as the Trailblazer Award) in 2017, given to a photographer every 2 years in recognition of early career excellence, vision, and inspiration to others in nature photography, conservation, and education. Then in 2017, she won Audobon Connecticut's Katie O'Brien Lifetime Achievement Award, meant to honor her exceptional leadership and commitment to the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. In 2015, Melissa won the Grand Prize at the Audubon Photography Awards. Melissa boasts a long list of globally-recognized accomplishments in the field of wildlife photography and conservation. She believes that photography can be both fine art and a powerful vehicle for storytelling, and considers herself a “wildlife biographer” as much as a wildlife photographer. Melissa Groo is a wildlife photographer, writer, and conservationist with a passion for educating people about the marvels of the natural world. The pictures have to mean something, they have to accomplish something.' -Melissa Groo It’s not enough just to take pretty pictures anymore. Photo: Heather Ainsworth 'I use my photos to try to bring awareness to threatened species, and impact their conservation positively in any way that I can.