More and more, the top wildlife photographers are using Sony Alpha cameras and Sony GM lenses to make outstanding images. From powerful predators to tiny insects, these photographers are pushing their gear to document the natural history and beauty of creatures great and small. We've made a must-follow list of wildlife photographers, shooting for outlets such as National Geographic, Time and the New York Times, and using high-performance cameras like the Sony Alpha 1 and Sony Alpha 7R V. You can check out some of their most recent images and learn how they rely on their Sony systems out in the wilderness. And to see more breathtaking imagery, be sure to follow @SonyAlpha on Instagram.
From powerful predators to tiny insects, see how these photographers use their cameras and lenses to capture decisive moments in the wilderness.
Melissa Groo – @melissagroo
Melissa Groo is a wildlife conservation photographer and writer as well as a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) and an instructor with Summit Photography Workshops. Groo is considered an expert in wildlife ethics writing and speaking on the topic frequently. She has recently switched to Sony and she has found the silent shutter critical in leaving her subjects undisturbed. She explains, “The silent shutter thing is so key to me. I work a lot from blinds, and I'll spend hours in a blind waiting for a fox to show up. Before, the fox would show up and I would hit the hammer on the Nikon D850, and that was it. The animal would just totally take off. I just couldn’t do that anymore, and the silent shutter from the Sony system blew me away.” She now shoots with the Sony Alpha 1 and a variety of lenses, including the Sony 600mm f/4 G Master.
Colby Brown – @colbybrownphotography
Sony Brand Ambassador Colby Brown is a photographer and teacher who focuses on wildlife, travel, landscape, and humanitarian photography. Brown focuses his efforts on connecting the audience with his imagery and helping them feel that passion for wildlife that he feels. Recently, while photographing in South Africa, Colby captured this leopard using his Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master. See more of his tips for photographing wildlife in A Wildlife Pro's Camera Setup Tips For Photographing Megafauna.
Katie Bryden – @ktbryden
Wildlife filmmaker Katie Bryden is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers. She lives in Florida and works on conservation issues across the state, using stories to help protect wild places. We love the video she shared below of wildlife moments in 2022. Katie captures the wildlife with such grace. Give Katie a follow to see more of her work and stay up to date on the films she’s working on!
Javier Aznar González de Rueda – @javier_aznar_photography
Photographer Javier Aznar González de Rueda’s work is mainly focused on natural history and wildlife conservation along with its relationship with humans. He is a @natgeo contributing photographer and a Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and The Photo Society. He has a background in biology and aims to offer a personal point of view showing nature at its wildest state through his photography. He often captures the magnificence found in the hidden world of creatures, with hopes to sensitize the public to the pressing need to preserve the planet and the animals living in it. We love this image of an Atrato Glass Frog taking care of a mass of eggs under a leaf.
Gina Danza – @wildgina
Nature photographer, visual storyteller and Sony Brand Ambassador Gina Danza specializes in intimate landscapes. She takes an approach to photography that includes connecting with nature and getting in touch with her emotional side, hoping to make others realize and reflect how they are connected with nature too. Follow her Instagram account for more nature content in your feed with captions that make you think about your relationship with all things outdoors.
Charly Savely – @charlysavely
Charly Savely is a Sony Brand Ambassador who specializes in adventure, travel, wildlife and fine art photography. She enjoys exploring the harsh environment of her home in Alaska, respectfully capturing its wildlife, and bringing awareness to climate change and conservation issues. Much of her photography features minimalist moments, often getting close-up with animals. She also leads wildlife photography and conservation workshops. Follow her to keep up with her latest work and for more beautiful wildlife imagery like the arctic fox image she posted below.
Morgan Heim – @moheim
Morgan Heim is a conservation photographer and filmmaker. She’s a Senior Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and co-founder of Her Wild Vision Initiative, an organization aimed at raising the voices of diverse women in the craft of conservation visual storytelling. Her work focuses on wildlife-human coexistence. In addition to her photojournalism work, she leads workshops with groups including Lindblad Expeditions and Summit Photography Workshops. She recently led a trip to Alaska where she made the image below. Morgan shoots stills on the Sony Alpha 7R IV and the Sony Alpha 9. When she needs maximum reach, like when photographing bears, she uses the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G lens and the Sony 1.4X Teleconverter.
Jen Guyton – @jenguyton
Jen Guyton is a photographer and ecologist with a passion for telling stories at the junction of global environmental change and human culture. She’s also an explorer for National Geographic Society and a fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. Her conservation photojournalism has taken her all over the world and her belief that storytellers have the power to persuade and motivate makes them crucial to the protection of our planet. She spent a year pursuing conservation stories in Gorongosa National Park, in Mozambique. That is where she made this stunning image below. We love the lighting and gestures from the elephants.
Cristina Mittermeier – @mitty
Cristina Mittermeier is a conservation photographer and Sony Brand Ambassador. She brings awareness to important conservation issues through her compelling life’s work. She’s the co-founder of conservation organizations @SeaLegacy, which is dedicated to promoting the protection of the world’s oceans through storytelling. She’s most recently been aboard the SeaLegacy 1, a boat specifically designed for the collective of storytellers to document ocean life for conservation purposes. You can watch their most recent explorations in the latest episode of SeaLegacy | The Voyage. Follow her on Instagram as she brings important issues to light through her inspiring imagery.
Paul Nicklen – @paulnicklen
Sony Brand Ambassador Paul Nicklen’s Instagram account is filled with powerful wildlife photos and inspiring captions that educate his 7.3 million followers on the world around us. As the co-founder of @SeaLegacy, Nicklen is dedicated to helping protect our oceans through storytelling. He has worked closely with National Geographic reporting on the world’s most pressing issues and now focuses his attention on ocean conservation with SeaLegacy. To tell these critical stories, he needs the most reliable, high-quality gear. Nicklen shoots with the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master, Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master and the Sony 600mm f/4 G Master.
