{"id":100934,"date":"2024-04-08T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=100934"},"modified":"2024-04-08T10:52:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T14:52:41","slug":"how-a-backyard-project-helped-this-conservation-photographer-become-a-national-geographic-explorer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/how-a-backyard-project-helped-this-conservation-photographer-become-a-national-geographic-explorer\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Conservation Photographer Became a National Geographic Explorer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When most people dream of becoming a conservation photographer for National Geographic, they envision far-flung landscapes and eye-popping megafauna\u2014yet, as Brooke McDonough<\/a> can attest, there\u2019s an advantage to telling stories closer to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, McDonough, a Virginia-based National Geographic Explorer and wildlife conservation photographer, earned a career-changing grant from the National Geographic Society that focused less on remote locales and more on her own backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NGS funded her photojournalism project<\/a>, \u201cThe Root of the Problem: North American Lawn Culture,\u201d which focuses on a deep-seated suburbia issue. Highly manicured, American-dream-style lawns\u2014especially the pesticides that support them\u2014put myriad insects at risk. While her project didn\u2019t require a plane trip to a remote corner of the globe, it did help her carve a niche and build authority within her community and field of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She came face to face with this unique advantage during a recent National Geographic Storytelling Summit. \u201cI met so many explorers who do incredible work all over the world, but many remembered me because my story is so weird and wacky,\u201d she says. \u201cI mean, I\u2019m digging around in people\u2019s front yards\u2014but it\u2019s so different from what everyone else is doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re curious about paving a career path as a conservation photographer, you\u2019re in the right place. Read on for McDonough\u2019s thoughts about breaking into the industry, making a name for yourself, finding the right projects, and how sticking close to home could accelerate your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Books to Backyards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While many kids dream of working for National Geographic, McDonough’s road to nature and conservation work took a more labyrinthine path. In fact, in the early days, she wasn’t a big outdoors enthusiast at all. “We used to live across the street from this beautiful nature preserve, and [my mom] would always ask me to go on walks\u2014but I would tell her I wasn’t a fan of ‘unnecessary walking.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet she was a fan of reading. The hobby led her into English literature studies, which ultimately put her in a course that focused on environmental literature. \u201cThat was really the first time my eyes opened to [the fact that] people can work in the world of nature and conservation science without being a scientist,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was a huge moment for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A group tends to honeybee hives at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Beekeeping is a popular activity for the enjoyment of bees and the social aspect of it.
Photo by Brooke McDonough<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Becoming a Conservation Photographer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Around this same time, she also dabbled into photography, which unveiled the medium\u2019s storytelling potential. \u201cI love stories,\u201d she says. \u201cOnce I kind of saw that this was a possibility to be able to work in that field, I was like, \u2018this is it; this is what I’m meant to be doing.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She eventually pursued a Master\u2019s degree in new media photojournalism at George Washington University, where she spent a full year working on a thesis assignment\u2014the project that catalyzed her passion for insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have a car at the time, but I\u2019d heard about these urban beekeepers and knew I could [take Washington D.C.\u2019s] Metro there,\u201d she says. The assignment\u2019s subject stemmed from necessity, but \u201cit kind of took legs of its own.\u201d She began learning about honeybees, then native bees, and this project led her into lawn culture<\/a>. It also jumpstarted an obsession with insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was great falling into this project because insects were not something I was super gung-ho about growing up,\u201d she says. \u201cThey were fine, but I didn\u2019t have strong feelings one way or another. Now I\u2019m really invested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local Stories Told by Locals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This initial close-to-home project opened her eyes and curiosity to suburbia\u2019s love of lawns, as did an assistantship role with a National Geographic photographer who was covering insect decline in the U.S. \u201cI was learning more and more about what caused this decline, and it was one of the things I was interested in looking at\u2014not just the doom and gloom, but why is this happening?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many rabbit holes later, McDonough uncovered one of the problem\u2019s roots. \u201cThe suburbs seemed to be a big area where we have a lot of land, but we\u2019re not using it all that thoughtfully,\u201d she says. \u201cI started thinking about lawns, and it\u2019s this huge amount of space that\u2019s not super regulated\u2014or if it is, it\u2019s toward being neat and manicured, but not for wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was her \u201caha\u201d moment. She spent nearly a year photographing this lawn culture concept, largely using macro photography<\/a> to show the goings-on of suburbia\u2019s grasses and gardens, before applying for funding as a National Geographic Explorer. \u201cI had a year to really research the idea for this grant application,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s where I started thinking deeply about what type of story would showcase this best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Katie Shaw scans the plots of a community garden in search of butterflies. She is the leader and organizer of an annual citizen science survey of migratory butterflies in Reston, Virginia.
Photo by Brooke McDonough<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Choosing the Right Storytelling Format<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As consumers and viewers, we often see the final product, but rarely do we get a behind-the-scenes look at why the artist chose a certain storytelling format to begin with. McDonough sheds some light: \u201cI think a lot of it stems from the action I want people to take and the scope of the story I want to tell,\u201d she says. \u201cFor this project, I want people to change at least part of their lawn toward native habitat.\u201d Yet the concept is \u201cfairly intangible,\u201d as she\u2019s trying to get people to think beyond the deeply ingrained aesthetic of suburban lawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would have been difficult to get this idea across in a film, she says, noting the message could easily get diluted. \u201cYou could do that in a photo essay, though,\u201d she says. That\u2019s what she ultimately chose. She sought grant funding for the project as a photo essay and noted that, in addition to the essay, she would host several community talks about lawn culture and her findings to stir grassroots change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Backyard Storytelling Supports Photography Growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When McDonough embarked on her career as a conservation photographer, she had a vision of far-off places. \u201cI always thought as an explorer, I\u2019d be flying around the world, not hanging in my mom\u2019s front yard,\u201d she says. \u201cBut it\u2019s been really good for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the benefits of working close to home abound. For one, you have more time to experiment with your photography. \u201cI\u2019ve spent so many more days out photographing than I would have if I\u2019d had to travel somewhere. I\u2019ve been able to photograph across the seasons, which was really important because I wanted to show what wild areas looked like throughout the year,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also helps her integrate into the community. \u201cI want to really develop relationships with the people I\u2019m working with, and that comes much more easily with just putting in time,\u201d she says. \u201cFor the level of funding I had, to travel somewhere and really embed myself in the community would have been challenging. It\u2019s much easier to do in the place I already live.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Right Voice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, a major criterion everyone, from editors to grant foundations, looks for in a storytelling proposal is why you are the one to tell this story. If it’s in your own backyard or a subject matter you’re deeply familiar with, that can give you a boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a more authentic story,\u201d McDonough says. \u201cThere are ways to go to different places and share stories in a place you don\u2019t live, but it can be really challenging. You want to make sure, especially as a conservation photographer, where you\u2019re trying to get action in one way or another, that you\u2019re really careful about assuming what that action should be or telling local communities what\u2019s \u2018correct.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For beginners, photographing a personal project in your hometown can also help you experiment and learn your craft without the time crunch of \u201cnailing it\u201d before your flight home. \u201cI\u2019m trying again and again. I cannot tell you how many photos of bees I have on a hard drive that are terrible or out of focus,\u201d McDonough says. \u201cAnd many of the photos I have that are really eye-catching were honestly kind of mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo by Brooke McDonough<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Making Macro Photography Compelling<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her insect work, McDonough learned the importance of macro photography<\/a>, particularly how to make these tiny subjects visually appealing. To grow her skillset, she examines the work of other photographers. \u201cI\u2019ve spent a lot of studying photos; I look at how my eye moves through a frame, or I\u2019ll close my eyes then open them to see where they\u2019re drawn,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while many study the work of top wildlife conservation photographers, who produce jaw-dropping images of show-stopping subjects like elephants or whales, McDonough wants to see how macro-photographers make the seemingly mundane intriguing and visually compelling. It\u2019s about looking at \u201ca setting that\u2019s maybe not so stunning, or naturally eye-catching, and really seeing how people are doing things in regions similar to you, or showing issues similar to yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having the right gear also plays a crucial role. For McDonough, that means using the Sony A7R5<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s incredible for me because of the insect-eye autofocus,\u201d she says. She also shoots with 16-35mm<\/a>, 24-105mm<\/a>, and 90mm<\/a> lenses, as well as the Sigma 15mm Diagonal Fisheye Art Lens<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flash plays a major part in McDonough\u2019s work, too. For her, it\u2019s all about the Wescott FJ200<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s awesome because it’s a battery pack,\u201d she says. \u201cI can take it out in the field and not have to worry about where I\u2019ll plug it in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for editing, she takes a more raw and authentic approach and instead relies on production gear, particularly her lights, to help elevate these macro insect images in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Selfie
Photo by Brooke McDonough<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Paving Your Own Path<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing McDonough is transparent about is all of the different ways she makes her conservation photography career work. She’s a writer, a photographer, and a filmmaker, and she works across multiple genres, from conservation to second-shooting wedding films, all to ensure she has enough income every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s sometimes a feeling that you need to support yourself fully [with conservation work],\u201d she says, but she wants people to know it\u2019s OK if you don\u2019t work that way. Not having an entire salary from being a conservation photographer doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re a fraud. \u201cThere are different levels of comfort people have with how much risk they can take with their income,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m just not comfortable not knowing how much I\u2019m going to make every month as a baseline. So that\u2019s how I\u2019ve structured it. I know other people who work differently, but I\u2019ve always had a million jobs going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2014paving a conservation photography career that\u2019s right for you\u2014is critical for long-term viability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery path is going to look different, and there are no stepping stones for this world,\u201d she says, noting comparing your career to another photographer\u2019s social media highlight reel can <\/em>make it feel this way\u2014but \u201cthere\u2019s no \u2018ahead\u2019 or \u2018behind,\u2019 because there\u2019s no path. I know I\u2019m working on something I\u2019m really excited about, and that\u2019s the best I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When most people dream of becoming a conservation photographer for National Geographic, they envision far-flung landscapes and eye-popping megafauna\u2014yet, as Brooke McDonough can attest, there\u2019s an advantage to telling stories closer to home. In 2022, McDonough, a Virginia-based National Geographic Explorer and wildlife conservation photographer, earned a career-changing grant from the National Geographic Society that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11111173,"featured_media":100944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17770,17780],"tags":[1468,1514],"class_list":["post-100934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-photography","category-photography-tips","tag-conservation-1468","tag-national-geographic-1514"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow a Conservation Photographer Became a Nat Geo Explorer Adorama<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you are curious about a career as a conservation photographer, breaking into the industry, making a name for yourself, read on.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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