Urban Safari on the Astoria Riverwalk

The sea lions are in town and literally piling up on doorsteps of local businesses! Attendees, along with Morgan Heim (National Geographic Explorer & member of the International League of Conservation Photographers), Gretchen Kay Stuart ( also with the International League of Conservation Photographers), Northwest Sony Tech Rep Dan Hawk, and Tommy Spencer from Pro Photo Supply, will meet on the riverwalk just outside of The Bowline Hotel in Astoria, OR, at 9 am. To kick things off, we'll revel in some time photographing our talkative sea lion neighbors. From there, we will either walk West towards the port and working shipyards, or East, making our way through town and venturing towards Pier 39 where the docks and jetties are noisy with the calls of more sea lions. Either direction promises good chances of spotting a variety of wildlife from herons in breeding plumage to cormorants, bufflehead ducks and a resident bald eagle that likes to perch on the downtown radio tower.

Let's embrace our inner nature/street photographer! The mission for this walk is to learn more about how to photograph the dynamic intersections between wild nature and urban life. Morgan Heim and Gretchen Kay Stuart, will be in attendance to help you hone your wildlife spotting and photography skills while Dan Hawk will have a limited amount of Sony gear to demo. There's plenty of free street parking near the rendezvous point. The weather is supposed to be rainy, so bring your rain gear, but as one of the all-time great photographers, Sam Abell says, "bad weather makes good photos."

ABOUT THE WILD COAST FILM FESTIVAL

With films spanning wildlife, adventure, and science, there is something for everyone at Wild Coast Film Festival in Astoria, OR!

The festival features films by renowned storytellers from National Geographic, the BBC, and seven award-winning regional wildlife filmmakers. Among its highlights are stories of untamed wildness and the indomitable human spirit.

Film screenings take place at the historic Columbian Theater. There are five film blocks, each approximately two hours long.

There will also be local pop-up events in Astoria. These informal gatherings are open to the public and feature special panel discussions. Attendees can eat, drink, and nerd-out on conservation topics.

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ABOUT MORGAN (MO) HEIM

Morgan (Mo) Heim is a conservation photographer, filmmaker, and founder of Neon Raven Story Labs, exploring personal human stories behind protecting wildlife and their ecosystems. With a background in ecology and environmental journalism, she shares the beauty, humor and perseverance in wildlife stories, and how those relationships shape our lives. Stories include following deer migrations, the impacts of drug cartels on public lands, fat reindeer and how seabirds serve as barometers of climate change. Mo is a 2024 National Geographic Explorer, Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Osher Fellow and co-founder of Her Wild Vision Initiative.

She has been recognized in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Big Picture and Siena International Photo Awards. You can find her work on the pages of Audubon, National Geographic, Nature Conservancy Magazine, and The New York Times. Mo believes in the importance of fostering new conservation photographers, regardless of age. She is a proud mentor for Girls Who Click, and offers coaching and workshops in conservation storytelling. She lives in Astoria, Oregon, where the waves are big, mountains close and weather not nearly as bad as everyone thinks it is. Visit morganheim.com and neonravenlab.com to learn more.

ABOUT GRETCHEN KAY STUART

Gretchen Kay Stuart is a conservation photographer based in the Pacific Northwest whose passion is raising awareness for endangered species and their threatened habitats with visual storytelling, DSLR camera traps, writing, and collaborating with biologists and conservation organizations.

Gretchen's solo backpacking expeditions in remote mountains have led to behavioral discoveries and documentation of her elusive subjects. Her artistically composed images aim to engage the public and encourage a deeper appreciation and understanding of the biodiversity we risk losing.

Invested in long-term projects, Gretchen’s work with the Cascade red fox mobilized community support, and a campaign she created contributed to the endangered listing of the Washington endemic subspecies. In 2023, she implemented a camera trap project documenting Federally threatened wolverines in Washington's South Cascades to run concurrently with her Cascade red fox project, which began in 2020.

Ethical photography practices are Gretchen’s top priority. She strives for intimate connections and natural behavior in her encounters without stressing or crowding her sensitive subjects.

Gretchen is a social media contributor for National Geographic and published by National Geographic Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and National Wildlife Magazine, among others. She often authors articles to accompany her images.

ABOUT REGISTRATION

Attendees may be required to sign a liability waiver upon arrival at the meeting point - refusal to sign the waiver may prevent your ability to join this photowalk.

By registering for this event, you also agree to receive future emails from Pro Photo Supply and Wild Coast Film Festival on new events, promotions, and photography tips. You can unsubscribe at any time.