Meet the Photographer!
As a part of my new fundraising project, we’re raffling off two prints of sea turtles off the coast of Hawaii. These photos were taking by Mrs. Chrissy! Let’s learn a little bit about her and these prints!
Can you give us some background on who you are, what your interests are, and details about yourself?
I am a fish and wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta. I am an avid caver and cave diver but also enjoy hiking, canyoning, kayaking, and pretty much anything that keeps me outside.
What does your job with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Division of Environmental Review involve?
I’m a “rover” biologist, which just means I have more then one job in the Regional Office. My responsibilities include issuing endangered species recovery permits, working as part of the inland oil spill response team, regional Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) representative, and helping out with Habitat Conservation Plans and Wind/Solar regulations.
How did you begin photography? What got you interested in specifically underwater photography?
While I have no formal training as a photographer, I started taking photos to pass the time while on decompression for cave diving. I had a small Olympus Tough and some lenses that I could attach and a go pro. It wasn’t until I moved to Hawai’i in 2017 that I started to see the real potential in learning more about photography. I started free diving with a group that just happened to consist of a number of women photographers. While they snapped away with their big cameras I used my little point and shoot. One of them convinced my husband to upgrade my camera to a large underwater rig for my birthday. I’ve been snapping away ever since.
What do you recommend for people who are interested in pursuing photography?
My advice: It doesn’t really matter what type of camera you have. Take photos and lots of them. Be open to constructive criticism and push yourself to think outside of what you think are good photos, experiment with light and perspective.
What is the coolest place you’ve photographed?
This is a tough question. I would have to say that I’m 50/50 on these two places. 1. Hawai’i (including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument) and 2. Galapagos. Both areas have an untouched wonder about them and an abundance of wildlife.
Are there any interesting stories about interactions you’ve had with marine species while photographing them?
I’ve only had a couple of interesting wildlife interactions thankfully. One was a fish that saw its reflection in my camera and kept trying to attack it. The second one was with a Hawaiian monk seal. They are an endangered species and protected and you should not get close to them. I was snorkeling and spotted one so started to swim away. He was more curious so he swam right up to me to check me out. He kept coming up to me no matter where I went, so I just stopped and floated. At one time, he was no more then 2’ from me. People have asked me why I didn’t reach out and touch him. The first is because he is protected and you should in no way touch or harass a monk seal. The second is that you need to respect that it’s a wild animal and you have no idea how they will react. Monk seals have bitten people who have harassed them. This seal could easily bite me 10 times before I swam 100 feet. So I just sat and floated and enjoyed the moment.
What message do you have for young people dealing with the environment/conservation?
Don’t give up. I know that the task of conservation is daunting. There will be set backs but there will also be victories. Remember that it is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Plan it that way and make the small things count. Finally, if you have the time, volunteer. I was able to volunteer for Mote Marine Laboratories in Sarasota growing up. It had a profound impact on my life and how I view the world.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your job, photography, etc?
The USFWS offers grants to non-profit partners that perform conservation in their regions. Please go to https://www.fws.gov/program/partners-fish-and-wildlife to see how you can become more involved with conservation in your state. Also NOAA has a large variety of lesson plans and activities available for free download on their education site. Go to www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections Don’t forget to check out volunteer opportunities with either your state or federal park service.
Special thanks to Mrs. Chrissy for providing us with these prints and for all her amazing work! Contribute $5 or more to my Sixteen Candles (for Sea Turtles) project this summer and you can be entered in to win one!
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