I've been attacked by rhinos in India, stalked by jaguars in Brazil, charged by a 11-foot grizzly in Siberia, trapped in quicksand in the world's largest tiger reserve in Myanmar and slept in a tent for six months at -40 below zero tracking snow leopards. Flown over erupting volcanoes and visited isolated villages where residents had never before seen a blond foreigner-or a camera.
I feel very lucky because this is the life I dreamed of as a child growing up in rural Indiana: traveling the world as a photographer for National Geographic Magazine. My first camera was a gift from my father on my seventh birthday. I started at National Geographic in 1991 and feel so incredibly lucky to have realized my dream as a kid, to have the best job in the world!
I feel we have a great responsibility to not only show and excite the readers about the natural world but it's fascinating people and cultures as well. But to give people a reason to care. I want to give the readers of National Geographic what I always wanted - a front row seat next to the photographer and writer - as apart of the team along for the adventure.
I am also now Director of Media for Panthera an organization whose mission it is to save the world?s 36 cat species. I am working with the same scientists I have done NGM stories with in the past - but now taking it a step further and helping to ensure these cats have a future. To learn more about big cats and our programs go to www.panthera.org.