July ’22 Member Spotlight

Become A Member

featuring 

Kevin Fitzpatrick

These days, I am working across the country as a conservation photographer. I’m focused on “Bio Blitzes” — shooting multiple species in such a way that viewers get a close-up, intimate look and are able to see all the beautiful detail and color that these species possess. As people’s perceptions change, the species will take on new life in their minds. What’s more, they will be seen as assets and vital parts of their world.

Each Bio Blitz is a short, intense team effort dedicated to discovering as many different life forms as possible in one location. It encompasses all I wish to communicate to my audience about conservation and biodiversity, and it’s a wonderful way to communicate with students and adults about science in general. I’ve learned that Bio Blitzes are powerful tools for environmental education, conservation, and community engagement, and they represent experiential learning at its best.

To date, I have shot over 140 Bio Blitzes from Maine to California. I’ve noticed that when people of all ages and professions gather to take a closer look at their local wildlife, a tangible excitement builds in the air.

I have worked with National Geographic on their Bio Blitzes at locations such as Saguaro National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Golden Gate National Park, and The National Mall in Washington D.C. The public has been deeply engaged in these events, and more than 1,000 kids attended each one!

I also have worked with number of New England-based organizations on their All- Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) projects in Acadia National Park, the Adirondacks, and the Boston Harbor Islands, where I worked on a project developed by E.O. Wilson. This acclaimed biologist and author conducted pioneering work on biodiversity, insects, and human nature, and he won two Pulitzer Prizes along the way.

Images move people. That’s why good photographic coverage is key not only in documenting what’s out there, big and small, but also in inspiring people to protect it.