Gitzo and Girls Who Click:
Empower young generations of female nature photographers

A Gitzo Story By Rylee Jensen

Building a career in conservation and wildlife photography is no easy task; every photographer has a unique motivation that gets them started in this field. For wildlife photographer Alejandra Rendón, her journey began with birds. Growing up in Colombia, the sheer number of subjects at her disposal seemed endless. Colombia is home to approximately 20% of the world’s total bird species, with nearly 1,900 recorded in 2013.
Alejandra found that one of the best ways to help her with identification was through the lens of a camera. By photographing the diversity of avian life in her home country, she also began to understand the different ecological issues they faced.

“Hearing directly from other ambassadors that we all face similar struggles has been incredibly reassuring… being supported by this community has helped me overcome my fear of failure, imperfection, rejection, and to believe in myself.”
- Alejandra Rendón

Navigating the world of social media, camera gear, publishing, and storytelling can be complex. Fortunately, there are several avenues for growing a community of like-minded peers to help make sense of the seemingly endless options. Girls Who Click (GWC), founded by wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas in 2017, is an organization doing such work. Alejandra was drawn to becoming a photography ambassador through GWC’s ambassador program after reading a compelling article by Suzi two years ago and feeling a deep connection to her story.

Alejandra has now become a published author of her own with her first book "Photographs and Stories of Extraordinary Birds". She is now eager to work on more, as well as using her interdisciplinary background as a scientist and photographer to further conservation stories.

First-year GWC ambassador, Chelsey Schartz, got her start in photography by capturing microscopic raindrops from the windshield of cars and on flowers, which soon blossomed into human and wildlife portraits. She finds that both learning from mentors and inspiring others has had a profound impact on her confidence and vision. The stereotypes and pressure that come from young female photographers breaking into the industry often translate into them feeling that they need to prove their skills in order to stand out.

Chelsey envisions continuing her work with conservation organizations and leading global photography workshops.

Documenting the natural world comes with a hefty set of physical challenges as well. Many wildlife photographers find themselves working in harsh conditions. Second-year GWC continuing ambassador Laia Soler’s work centers around the Arctic wildlife of Svalbard, a remote archipelago off the northern coast of Norway. Low light, high winds, and extremely cold temperatures often push both Laia and her gear to their limits.
However, with her Gitzo Mountaineer Series tripod at her disposal, the elements have had little effect on the quality of her photos. The flexibility and durability of the tripod also allows her to get unique angles that few tripods are able to do.

Laia hopes to become more involved in underwater photography and use her photographs to bring awareness to local biodiversity challenges while guiding, exploring, and via storytelling.

“It almost lies flat on the ground which is perfect for wildlife photography and holds well in different positions that allow interesting landscape perspectives.”
- Laia Soler

First-year GWC ambassador and conservation photographer Francesca Page agrees that trusting high-quality, reliable gear in the field is essential for creating impactful stories. She says Gitzo’s Mountaineer Carbon Fiber tripod kit and 3-Way Fluid Head  “provides excellent versatility for framing shots in the field, so I can dedicate more time to creativity and storytelling.” Alejandra’s bird photography and slow-motion videography is significantly enhanced by her tripod’s versatility and stability. Learning the ins and outs of your gear as well as the technical aspects of photography allows you to shift “from simply capturing moments to actively creating them”, she says.

Creating powerful images and filming raw sequences in the field can be incredibly rewarding. Coming face-to-face with coastal brown bears, trekking through ancient rainforests, and scuba diving in coral reefs are all part of the job description for many wildlife photographers. However, getting to know a subject or place on an intimate level often means facing the reality of the issues threatening their survival.

Francesca's artistic background, experience as an Open Water Scuba Instructor, and passion for the world’s oceans compels her mission to use her photographs as a means for inspiring global change. With our planet rapidly losing marine biodiversity at an alarming rate, visual storytelling can be an effective way to promote conservation initiatives. Indeed, many wildlife photographers find themselves called toward sharing conservation stories they are deeply connected to.

Francesca dreams of becoming a National Geographic Explorer one day and focusing on solution-based conservation stories; her philosophy lies in “the power of collaboration over competition” and adds that “real change happens when we come together as a collective.”

Encouraging aspiring female photographers to achieve these goals and find their artistic voice is at the core of GWC’s mission. Each one of GWC’s ambassadors and partner photographers have unique skills and relationships with their conservation stories; however, everyone must start somewhere.

Increased experience in the field and exposure to the world of photography converts amateur photographers into mentors; this is what GWC’s ambassador program is all about. Nat Geo Explorer and wildlife photographer Lana Tannir started with GWC two years ago as a way to advance her storytelling skills through mentorship, community, workshops, and cohort meet-ups. One key element to effective storytelling is recognizing that there are opportunities to document themes, characters, and scenes on a local level and homing in on the details.

Lana’s goal is to reach a global, diverse audience with her photographs to “foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the environment, encouraging collective efforts toward sustainable solutions, and instilling hope for the future.” In a world of seemingly endless bad news, it is essential to find hope through the storm.

“The key to breaking into photography is to stay engaged and follow your curiosity. When you photograph a topic you are passionate about, you can capture it more intimately than anyone else.”
- Lana Tannir

From the moment we first pick up a camera, to decades’ worth of experience in the field, a photographer’s journey is ever evolving. The beauty of this field is that there is never one “right” way to attain success; one person’s mission could look entirely different than another’s. This is clearly evident with GWC’s ambassadors.

Through the impact of images and captivating stories shared by young leaders like the GWC ambassadors, there is greater potential than ever for change in global conservation.

Michele's gear

To bring out the best in your wildlife photography expeditions, choosing the perfect equipment is crucial.   

Ball Head Series 4 & Fluid Gimbal Head

The Gitzo Ball Head Series 4 provides versatility and precision.
Its quick-release system allows for easy mounting and adjustments, ensuring you never miss a frame. On the other hand, the Gitzo Gimbal Fluid Head offers exceptional stability and fluid movements, allowing you to effortlessly track the bear's motions while maintaining a steady frame. Its smooth panning and tilting capabilities make it ideal for capturing unexpected wildlife moments.