Josh Asel
Founder, Main Content Creator
After having a massive adrenaline rush from photographing a dove flying by, Josh dropped out of college the day after and started pursuing wildlife and conservation photography. A self-taught photographer and tracker, he focuses on dedicated visual conservation stories by working with biologists in the field whose research covers Threatened and Endangered species. Josh's commitment to saving wildlife and growing ethical practices stems from needing to fulfill his duty to God and a natural love of all things wild.
Josh has metamorphosed into an award-winning photographer, Nikon Professional, Ethics Committee Member at NANPA, large carnivore tracker, and instructor. He founded Wild Expectations, is represented by Wildscreen, serves on the Board of Directors for OWAC, and has appeared on multiple judging panels. Josh's publications include National Geographic, Defenders of Wildlife, Improve Photography, Alaska Airlines Inflight Magazine, Outdoors California, and The Press Democrat, among others.
"The photography of Joshua Asel illustrates the beauty and vital importance of California's wildlife and natural environments, and he serves as a worthy model for all aspiring environmental stewards." - State Senator Mike McGuire
www.joshasel.com
Past Contributors
Ian A Nelson
Filmmaker
Ian Anthony Nelson is a filmmaker from Santa Rosa, California. Since graduating from the Academy of Art University in 2012, School of Motion Pictures & Television with an emphasis in cinematography, Ian has been freelancing as a videographer and camera assistant on a variety of film and photo shoots. Ian is also making his own wildlife and nature documentaries and has worked in association with American Bird Conservancy, Kaua’i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Bay Nature, Golden Gate Audubon Society, Felidae Conservation Fund and Save Mount Diablo. At a young age, Ian traveled with his parents within and outside of the US, including Hawaii, Baja California Mexico, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic and more. While attending college, Ian studied Italian and spent a semester abroad in Orvieto, Italy where he enjoyed learning about Roman and Etruscan art history and culture. Ian has become enthralled with traveling, discovering and observing wildlife in their natural environments and loves finding ways to engage an audience through compelling compositions and camera movement. Ian aspires to create independent films and wildlife documentaries in association with environmental and wildlife organizations to promote global awareness of the various ecosystems and life forms on this planet.
www.iananelson.com
Ian Anthony Nelson is a filmmaker from Santa Rosa, California. Since graduating from the Academy of Art University in 2012, School of Motion Pictures & Television with an emphasis in cinematography, Ian has been freelancing as a videographer and camera assistant on a variety of film and photo shoots. Ian is also making his own wildlife and nature documentaries and has worked in association with American Bird Conservancy, Kaua’i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Bay Nature, Golden Gate Audubon Society, Felidae Conservation Fund and Save Mount Diablo. At a young age, Ian traveled with his parents within and outside of the US, including Hawaii, Baja California Mexico, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic and more. While attending college, Ian studied Italian and spent a semester abroad in Orvieto, Italy where he enjoyed learning about Roman and Etruscan art history and culture. Ian has become enthralled with traveling, discovering and observing wildlife in their natural environments and loves finding ways to engage an audience through compelling compositions and camera movement. Ian aspires to create independent films and wildlife documentaries in association with environmental and wildlife organizations to promote global awareness of the various ecosystems and life forms on this planet.
www.iananelson.com
Sammy Tillery
Portrait Photographer
Sammy is a Californian for life and a Hawaiian at heart. Commercial photographer Sammy Tillery is about creating the same comfort level, professionalism and atmosphere for the most discerning of clients – say, upscale wineries – to the most uncooperative of subjects – such as venomous snakes. Sammy is a graduate from Brooks Institute of Photography. He is passionate about wildlife, an experienced animal handler, and loves surfing. Sammy works with every client to draw on their own passions – both hidden and obvious. Sammy does not simply take pictures, he creates images.
Sammy Tillery's Website >>
Sammy is a Californian for life and a Hawaiian at heart. Commercial photographer Sammy Tillery is about creating the same comfort level, professionalism and atmosphere for the most discerning of clients – say, upscale wineries – to the most uncooperative of subjects – such as venomous snakes. Sammy is a graduate from Brooks Institute of Photography. He is passionate about wildlife, an experienced animal handler, and loves surfing. Sammy works with every client to draw on their own passions – both hidden and obvious. Sammy does not simply take pictures, he creates images.
Sammy Tillery's Website >>
Kris White
Photo Editor and Multimedia Photographer
Photography has been his life for over 40 years. He has been involved in all aspects of the industry from photographer, to film and print processor (both B&W and color), to consultant and teacher.
His strength lies first in seeing light and knowing how it will be translated
to film, or a digital file, through the choice of lens, focal length and aperture.
Secondly, the most important aspect as Photo Editor is composition, and its rules.
With that said, Kris knows that those rules can and will be broken from time to time and result in a most outstanding image. It is his adamant belief that one should make the image, not just take the image.
Photography has been his life for over 40 years. He has been involved in all aspects of the industry from photographer, to film and print processor (both B&W and color), to consultant and teacher.
His strength lies first in seeing light and knowing how it will be translated
to film, or a digital file, through the choice of lens, focal length and aperture.
Secondly, the most important aspect as Photo Editor is composition, and its rules.
With that said, Kris knows that those rules can and will be broken from time to time and result in a most outstanding image. It is his adamant belief that one should make the image, not just take the image.
Rick Evets
Wildlife Photographer
Rick Evets is a landscape photographer who turned
into a wildlife photographer, which was influenced by Tom Reynolds.
Rick Evets is a landscape photographer who turned
into a wildlife photographer, which was influenced by Tom Reynolds.
Tom Reynolds
Wildlife Photographer
Sonoma County Outstanding Volunteer Of the Year 2012. Regional Parks Best of The Best 2011. Bentley Smith Award Madrone Audubon 2013.
Sonoma County Outstanding Volunteer Of the Year 2012. Regional Parks Best of The Best 2011. Bentley Smith Award Madrone Audubon 2013.
Trish Carney
Wildlife Photographer
My inspiration is simple: Animals. My images celebrate being in the company of animals and are both a declaration of love for the wild and untamed as well as a lyrical reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not preserve and protect habitat for the wild creatures that share the planet with us. You need to be enamored with wildlife to choose it as your subject because you quietly suffer for it. Rising long before dawn; waiting for interminable times; not talking; avoiding (and sometimes not) poison oak; getting ravaged by bugs; only to come home empty handed more times than not. So why on earth would you choose wildlife as a subject? It has to be because you are madly in love with the furred and feathered. Blending into the the environment as much as possible, I try to have my presence accepted by the animal. I stay visible and let the animal approach--if it chooses to. This strategy takes a crazy amount of timing, patience, perserverance and a whole lot of luck. The most important consideration for me in photographing wildlife is that no image is worth causing an animal stress. Reading body language and knowing when to back off and walk away is crucial. On the surface my subject is animals. But perhaps it is more about the reverence I hold for them. I hope that comes across in my pictures. Thanks for checking out my work. If you have any questions about my work, emailtrishgcarney@gmail.com
My inspiration is simple: Animals. My images celebrate being in the company of animals and are both a declaration of love for the wild and untamed as well as a lyrical reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not preserve and protect habitat for the wild creatures that share the planet with us. You need to be enamored with wildlife to choose it as your subject because you quietly suffer for it. Rising long before dawn; waiting for interminable times; not talking; avoiding (and sometimes not) poison oak; getting ravaged by bugs; only to come home empty handed more times than not. So why on earth would you choose wildlife as a subject? It has to be because you are madly in love with the furred and feathered. Blending into the the environment as much as possible, I try to have my presence accepted by the animal. I stay visible and let the animal approach--if it chooses to. This strategy takes a crazy amount of timing, patience, perserverance and a whole lot of luck. The most important consideration for me in photographing wildlife is that no image is worth causing an animal stress. Reading body language and knowing when to back off and walk away is crucial. On the surface my subject is animals. But perhaps it is more about the reverence I hold for them. I hope that comes across in my pictures. Thanks for checking out my work. If you have any questions about my work, emailtrishgcarney@gmail.com
Meredith Overstreet
Writer and Columnist
Meredith Overstreet is driven to explore and to learn, and enjoys sharing unique discoveries with others. From north of the Arctic Circle to south of the Mississippi, she has had the privilege to live and work all over the United States’ diverse cities and wild, remote landscapes. Her undergraduate schooling at the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduate education through the Harvard Extension School concentrated on the subjects of international studies, geology, environmental management, sustainability, and ecosystems. This coursework coupled with Meredith’s marine science and maritime law enforcement experience (since 2005) has given her an ability, one she seeks to expand and refine, for examining the mechanics of how the environment works and how we utilize and rely on its systems for our comfort and survival. She is motivated by the idea that knowledge of relevant environmental topics and their intricacies is empowering, and that such exposure can help individuals and thus whole communities to think more critically about decisions affecting their local habitats.
Meredith Overstreet is driven to explore and to learn, and enjoys sharing unique discoveries with others. From north of the Arctic Circle to south of the Mississippi, she has had the privilege to live and work all over the United States’ diverse cities and wild, remote landscapes. Her undergraduate schooling at the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduate education through the Harvard Extension School concentrated on the subjects of international studies, geology, environmental management, sustainability, and ecosystems. This coursework coupled with Meredith’s marine science and maritime law enforcement experience (since 2005) has given her an ability, one she seeks to expand and refine, for examining the mechanics of how the environment works and how we utilize and rely on its systems for our comfort and survival. She is motivated by the idea that knowledge of relevant environmental topics and their intricacies is empowering, and that such exposure can help individuals and thus whole communities to think more critically about decisions affecting their local habitats.
Larry Broderick
Presenting Birds of Prey
"He runs West County Hawk Watch, which in turn partners with Ranchers, Land owners, Conservationists, Wildlife Rescue and Education organizations, Bird watchers, Photographers and Raptor Enthusiasts.
Broderick currently does his tours and workshops with the Sonoma Land Trust, the Solano Land Trust, and the Madrone Audubon Society. He has participated in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, release and nest monitoring. He is currently an interpretive specialist focusing on field identification, census and natural history on the subject of birds of prey.
He studied Endangered Species, Bald Eagles, Birds of Prey, and Environmental Issues at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he attended his first trip to Klamath in 1990 under Peter Leveque. Larry has been back to the Lower Klamath Basin Refuge System for the past 20 years. He has an extensive background in Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History, Primarily in Northern California.
Larry speaks of the “Pillars of North" at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory at the Marin Headlands, a few key mentors he has learned from in watching dots on the distant horizon become Merlins, Eagles and Broad-winged Hawks draw close and make eye contact as they coast nearby. His latest work is implementing a GGRO-style Hawkwatch at the Jenner Headlands under Authority of the Sonoma Land Trust and The Wildlands Conservancy Management. With protocol and data assistance from the GGRO he leads a volunteer team of raptor Identification and recording personnel at the newly found flyway."
-Jesse House 2012
Larry's Experience and Services >>
"He runs West County Hawk Watch, which in turn partners with Ranchers, Land owners, Conservationists, Wildlife Rescue and Education organizations, Bird watchers, Photographers and Raptor Enthusiasts.
Broderick currently does his tours and workshops with the Sonoma Land Trust, the Solano Land Trust, and the Madrone Audubon Society. He has participated in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, release and nest monitoring. He is currently an interpretive specialist focusing on field identification, census and natural history on the subject of birds of prey.
He studied Endangered Species, Bald Eagles, Birds of Prey, and Environmental Issues at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he attended his first trip to Klamath in 1990 under Peter Leveque. Larry has been back to the Lower Klamath Basin Refuge System for the past 20 years. He has an extensive background in Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History, Primarily in Northern California.
Larry speaks of the “Pillars of North" at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory at the Marin Headlands, a few key mentors he has learned from in watching dots on the distant horizon become Merlins, Eagles and Broad-winged Hawks draw close and make eye contact as they coast nearby. His latest work is implementing a GGRO-style Hawkwatch at the Jenner Headlands under Authority of the Sonoma Land Trust and The Wildlands Conservancy Management. With protocol and data assistance from the GGRO he leads a volunteer team of raptor Identification and recording personnel at the newly found flyway."
-Jesse House 2012
Larry's Experience and Services >>
Dave Barry
Presenting Waterfowl
Dave is a certified California Naturalist, a certification program created by UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Dave brings a breath of experience and knowledge of birding and nature to his volunteer work mentoring young birders, leading bird tours and nature hikes, and giving natural history talks. Dave is a Santa Rosa native and has done programs with LandPaths, Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, the Wildlife Conservancy, and is a lead naturalist with West County Hawk Watch.
Check out his upcoming presentations on December 13th and 14th, 2014! >>
Dave is a certified California Naturalist, a certification program created by UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Dave brings a breath of experience and knowledge of birding and nature to his volunteer work mentoring young birders, leading bird tours and nature hikes, and giving natural history talks. Dave is a Santa Rosa native and has done programs with LandPaths, Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, the Wildlife Conservancy, and is a lead naturalist with West County Hawk Watch.
Check out his upcoming presentations on December 13th and 14th, 2014! >>