He has a biology background, but photography was his true calling. His work blends photography and science together, and it spans the globe.
The Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center will present conservation photography by Joe Riis, a wildlife photographer for National Geographic, at 7 p.m. tonight. Riis is slated to bring work from his recent trips through Asia and North and South America.
Riis came from Pierre, S.D., in 2003 to attend the University of Wyoming. Vedauwoo and people of Wyoming were what originally attracted Riis to the area.
“Wyoming has classical, down-to-earth folk who like to play up in the mountains like myself,” Riis said.
Riis graduated from UW in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a degree from the Haub School of Energy Resources.
After he graduated, Riis said he wanted to photograph wildlife instead of working as a biologist. His did his first independent project in Grand Teton National Park. He spent 15 months tracking the migration patterns of the pronghorn, often spending nights in the back of his truck, he said.
Riis said he was not formally educated in photography. His first project was important because it had to establish him as a wildlife photographer.
“You have to really want it. People will back you and give you grants if they truly believe you are dedicated and willing to commit. You have to put in the time,” Riis said.
Coming from a wildlife biology background, Riis’s works fuse photography and science. Riis writes stories along with his pictures. For background information, he talks with locals, other wildlife biologists and government officials, he said.
“My inspiration comes from the wild animals we share this planet with,” Riis said. “I specialize in wildlife stories, conservation and adventure.”
He has won an Emmy award for nature cinematography.
Riis’s travels and works range from conservation photography projects in the Grand Teton National Park to projects in Thailand. However, Wyoming has some of the coolest biodiversity, Riis said. With the wide-open spaces and lack of populated areas, Wyoming has spectacular wildlife biodiversity and Riis hopes to do more work in Wyoming.
Thursday night’s event is sponsored by the Zoology/Physiology Department, the Haub School of ENR and the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center.
Riis said he is focusing on his more recent works, which span the continents of Asia, North and South America and a little bit from Africa. He already has given presentations on the pronghorn, so he will not be showing those photos.
Riis’s favorite project was his 2011 excursion to Mongolia with National Geographic. While there, Riis documented Gobi bears. He said the expedition style and the remoteness made the trip memorable.
“What made it so unique was the fact that we were the first to photograph the Gobi bears.” Riis said.
The Haub School of ENR also is offering lectures by Dr. Jack Ward Thomas about ecosystem management and national forests.
