Albany bird photographer Georgina Steytler loving life behind the lens

Just before the last golden rays of sunshine start to sink below the horizon, Albany photographer Georgina Steytler can often be found on location with her lens at the ready. Whether it is one of our region’s weird, whacky or wonderful bird species, the self-confessed “bird nerd” has most likely captured it on camera. Steytler has documented many of Australia’s 830 bird species over a career spanning more than a decade. Now, some of her best work has been captured in a book called For the Love of Birds, a collaboration with Australian Geographic. Her ability to capture the character, beauty and intelligence of each bird in their natural habitat comes to life in bursts of colour throughout the 245-page book. An ethical artist who believes in treading lightly on the Earth, Steytler practises low- impact photography, trying not to distress wildlife or disturb natural behaviours. Her words throughout the book deliver important messages, but her aim is simple. “To try and get the average person engaged in nature more and empower them to realise change is possible,” she said. “If we all do our little bit, it can make a difference to the fate of a lot of species. “The biggest risk we have with extinction is the disconnect of people in modern world from nature.” The award-winning snapper’s bubbly and high-spirited personality shines through as she speaks passionately about her profession and conservation. Growing up on an orchard in Donnybrook, Steytler learnt to appreciate nature from a young age. “Just being a country person and growing up in an intimate part of nature ... I spent a lot of time on my own in nature going for walks in the bush, walks along the river,” she said. “It was very cathartic and becomes a natural part of who you are.” Steytler’s passion for photography started when she worked as a travel writer for The West Australian which gave her the opportunity to take landscape photos of idyllic holiday destinations. That evolved into bird photography after she “escaped from the law” as a lawyer and volunteered at Birdlife WA. The first image she captured with her new 3kg 600mm lens was of two swallows “arguing” on a fence. From that point onwards, she was “hooked”. Steytler has since produced images for use by conservation organisations across Australia — for free — as well as teaching the art and ethics of bird photography through workshops, talks and articles. She made Albany her home with her partner and their pet Belgian shepherd two years ago, moving from Toodyay. Steytler said the highlight of her career was in 2018 when she became the first Australian woman to win a category of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, arguably the world’s most prestigious nature photography competition. Described as the Oscars of nature photography, Steytler was flown to London for the event where she was awarded for her incredible image of mud-dauber wasps. Some other major achievements include winning categories of the Australian Photography Awards, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year and Bird Photographer of the Year. Steytler has long wanted to compile a book of some of her favourite photos — and she has finally ticked that box. She will be at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station on Saturday running a bird photography workshop. “I’m going back to the beginning and teaching the essential skills, basic techniques,” she said. “There are no secrets, no magical processing — what I’m doing, 99 per cent is done in camera and using natural light.”