Mia McPherson

Introduction

Hello, I am Mia McPherson. I became seriously passionate about bird photography while living in Florida. After my move back out to the Western U.S. in 2009, I spent much of my time photographing birds in Utah, Idaho, Montana, and beyond.

Now, I’m exploring and photographing in the Central Plains part of this country and in Arkansas which is considered the South.

I started my life as a farmer’s daughter and lived way out in the country with all kinds of domestic and wild creatures. Then I became a proud Army Brat and I grew up traveling the world and North America. I spent a great deal of my childhood living in Germany and wandered around Europe learning about the birds and wildlife there.

Since becoming an adult, I continued my wanderlust, and I have traveled to so many countries I have lost track of how many I have visited. Throughout my journeys, I’ve made it a priority to immerse myself in the wonders of the natural world. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of visiting every state in the U.S..

As a nature lover, bird and wildlife photographer, I have a passion for capturing the beauty and grace of birds and wildlife in their natural habitats. My love for birds has led me to devote countless hours to learning about them, observing their behavior, and capturing the best images of them that I can.

Since early 2010, I have written about what I know about the subjects I photograph, given credit for what I found out while researching them, and acknowledged the people who have helped me when I wasn’t 100% sure of an identification.

Why?

For me, that is a matter of personal integrity, plus I don’t want to appear to be more of an expert than I actually am or take credit for something that I didn’t do or find. I have been guided by and have used those thoughts and principles for each and every one of my published posts.

It is the honorable thing to do.

Finding My Subjects

Finding my subjects isn’t all about having keen eyesight. It helps, for sure, but it isn’t everything. Paying attention plus having an ample supply of patience is ultimately just as important.

I have taken Master Gardener and Master Naturalist courses to expand my knowledge. Because of my passion I am constantly learning and teaching others. Although I am primarily a bird photographer, my knowledge also extends to plants, insects, and animals because everything in nature is connected.

By knowing my subjects, I can find my subjects.

My Philosophy of Ethical Photography

Nature is perfect just the way it is, and I want to highlight its beauty in its purest form. Which is why I prefer to keep my images as close to their natural form as possible, using minimal editing and adjustments.

My philosophy of ethical photography extends to avoiding baiting or calling in birds and instead capturing them in their natural surroundings, doing what they do best.

My Work and Achievements

While I don’t enjoy tooting my own horn, I feel that I should mention that my work has been published in guidebooks, national and international magazines, bird apps, and various other publications. I also have works on display in several locations across the U.S. on kiosks, interpretation signs, and in museums, including the Natural History Museum of Utah.

Additionally, I have written and co-written articles for several international magazines.

Feel free to visit my Published Images and Writing and Interviews pages to see more.

For many years, I have contributed images to organizations aligned with causes I wholeheartedly and passionately support, in the pursuit of advancing education, conservation, and preservation.

Personally, I am drawn to the challenge of capturing my images in different light conditions – be it the golden light of dawn, low light, snow, or fog. My passion for photography and nature brings a sense of peace and balance to my life, and I strive to showcase that through my images.

I hope you enjoy exploring our world through my lens and reading the genuine stories behind my images.

Thanks for reading about me!