Julie Larsen Maher,
Photographer

Official Title: WCS Staff Photographer

"Work on the wild side! Inspiring care for wildlife and wild lands can happen through many different career choices. Investigate all of them."

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild lands. The need to communicate our message underlies everything we do. Photographs that represent our conservation in the field and animal welfare in the living institutions enlighten, educate and inspire, and are the visual voice of the WCS.

Julie began her career with WCS as Creative Director of Publications in 1991 and changed jobs in 2005 to Staff Photographer. Julie is just the sixth person (and first female) in the history of the organization to be named Staff Photographer. Quite amazing since WCS has been around since 1895! She uses digital photography to bring to life WCS programs from around the world - both in the images she takes and those given to her by WCS field-based conservation staff.

Every day, Julie works with some of the world's leading conservationists and animal experts to plan and take the photos for WCS. Being staff photographer for WCS allows her the "perfect blend of art and science," as she chronicles the wildlife and the people at its five New York-based wildlife parks by taking pictures. Her digital photographs and the stories that go with them represent remarkable, behind-the-scenes access to 20,000 animal residents and their caregivers. WCS field conservationists work with Julie to capture and communicate pictures from their programs at international locations around the world. Through these images that reflect the diversity of faraway lands, she has loved and learned about these beautiful and remote places, and why conserving them is of global importance.

Julie has gone to the wilds of Madagascar, an island off the coast of east Africa where conservation is a top priority, to take photographs six times in the last few years. Much of the wildlife in Madagascar occurs nowhere else on earth - like lemurs and chameleons. There are even humpback whales in their breeding grounds in the Indian Ocean that surrounds Madagascar. Julie documents WCS field activities as WCS researchers work to save the last remaining forests there—over 80% are gone due to deforestation. Julie takes photos and writes about places like Madagascar to help educate the world about the need to protect them.

Julie has also made recent photo expeditions to the WCS Yellowstone program and Argentina, where the Patagonia coast is home to southern right whales, penguins, and elephant seals. Land development and oil exploration effect their habitats. Her photos will help bring attention to these issues.

Having grown up on a farm in Iowa, Julie learned very early about the animals her family raised. She explored creeks and woods and studied the plants and animals she found along the way. She participated in various programs and volunteer opportunities that included animal care and art. Julie took a variety of interesting classes in both high school and college, including English, art, writing, journalism, and biology and other sciences. In college, she finally settled on graphic design as a career choice. Since Julie considers her digital camera and computer the most important creative and communicative tools that she uses, she highly recommends courses on photography and information technology to those interested in this career.

Her images from the zoos and the field appear throughout WCS media including www.wcs.org, www.bronxzoo.com, and other national and international publications and websites. As you surf the Teens for Planet Earth and Wildlife Conservation Society web pages, look for Julie's photos!

The next time you visit one of the WCS zoos, Julie suggests some valuable tips for photographers.

• You'll often find that you have to shoot through glass. So, it's really important to stand at an angle. That will reduce flash back.
• Look for good ambient light, and try shots without using a flash.
• Bring a tripod.
• Get eye to eye with the animal.
• Avoid shooting down on an animal.
• Take more than one picture of a subject.
• Vary the angle of your shots.
• Look for details within the animal—skin patterns, shapes, textures—for interesting close-ups. This will enhance any photo essay. It's also something many scientists use to identify various species.