Biography

Michael Mauro is that rare breed of nature photographer who can claim the near impossible. He has traveled from one end of the earth to the other capturing everything from King Penguins in Antarctica to Wolves in Alaska. His most remarkable capture took place in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Wolves and grizzlies faced off over a moose carcass for three days. Michael stood guard and shot the altercations with both stills and video. Magazines and newspapers the world over have garnered their pages with some of these amazing images. Like most seasoned pros, Michael's passion for wildlife and the art of photography began when he was young. "I actually got my first camera when I was about 7 or 8, and I'll never forget it was a little 110 film camera. It even had a little case that I could attach to my belt...I thought I was quite the photographer." Deer were plentiful in the backwoods of southern Colorado where Michael grew up. These creatures provided a young talent with many opportunities to learn the tricks of the trade; but it wasn't until Michael started working as a biologist at Mesa Verde National Park that he knew he found his calling. Mesa Verde is full of archaeological resources off limits to the public without a "special use" permit that requires a chaperon. In 1988, Michael accompanied a professional wildlife photographer as a chaperon to the remote corners of the park repeatedly during the summer and fall. He watched the master at work for hours at a time, and came to a fateful conclusion: "I always knew I wanted to work in the outdoors but it wasn't until that Park Service assignment when I realized I could actually make a living as a photographer in nature observing and capturing wildlife on film and video." It's now sixteen years later, and Michael can say he's witnessed and captured the world's greatest creatures like only a rare breed of human can do. His collection includes: bears, eagles, wolves, mountain goats, elk and dall sheep to mention a few. Some of Michael's editorial credits include: Outdoor Photographer, Ranger Rick, Outdoor Life, Backpacker Magazine, Patagonia Catalogs, Le Figaro, Voyageur Press Books (Majestic Elk & Majestic Mule Deer) and Ducks Unlimited. Michael also publishes images in calendars, postcards, posters, and on the web. Some of his corporate clients include: Dick's Sporting Goods, Patagonia, Katadyn Water Filters, Optimus Stoves, Princeton Tec, Adventure Medical Kits, SPOT, Why Be Boxed, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Geological Survey and MGA Communications. In addition, Michael has worked as a contract wildlife/nature photographer/videographer for the US Fish & Wildlife at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado. He is also producing a series of audio and video podcasts about his photo and video pursuits. Mauro's Moments are a series of video podcasts designed to teach techniques that we use in the field. Michael is also a co-host for the Adventure Filmcast audio podcast, which is essentially a 30-60 minute "behind the scenes" radio show about how adventure/outdoor/nature photographers and filmmakers work. For more info goto: http://www.mauromedia.com