Shannon’s life has been quite the whirlwind the past couple of years – she underwent two heart procedures and grappled with a severe case of Covid for nearly two months. But amidst all of the challenges, there has been unforgettable moments as well; from shooting for the Nikon Z9 release campaign, documenting lions in Botswana and contributing for an upcoming BBC series.
She also managed to find time to reconnect with her family back in Australia, and collaborated with organisations like the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Wildlife ACT to promote her bracelets, Wild in Africa that are now gracing the shelves of exclusive lodges and retail outlets across the globe.
The start of a bright future
Her very first project with National Geographic involved filming wildlife b-roll for a reality series based in Botswana. (B-roll is “filler” shots.) Every day she’d venture out into the Okavango Delta capturing life around her, before returning to camp with the rest of the crew each evening. The camp consisted of tents pitched in the middle of nowhere during the scorching months of October and November. Sleeping in those tents became more of a challenge than a comfort due to the extreme heat, but given the constant presence of leopards and hyenas prowling through the camp at night, sleeping outside wasn’t an option.
The experience was nothing short of an adventure; wading through waist-deep waters with crocodiles and hippos scattered around and the occasional fall off a jet ski while attempting to manage filming equipment added an element of risk vs reward. She recalls pitch black evenings with only the glow of torchlights illuminating the darkness and gleaming eyes of predators providing a chilling reminder of the surrounding wildlife. Swarms of mosquitoes added another layer of discomfort to the already challenging conditions. Despite all of the elements, she never hesitated to jump into action, even while grappling with equipment cases nearly her own size.
An unexpected pandemic
The Covid-19 Pandemic affected us all in some way or another, and Shannon could not have expected this to strike when she was on tour speaking across the United States for a NatGeo LIVE documentary she filmed in India, The Real Black Panther. After nearly eight weeks of touring, the final show was held in Kansas City when the whole world was entering lockdown. Luckily, she managed to find her way home in the nick of time!
What’s in her kit?
With regard to photography, she mostly relies on her Nikon D850 DSLR and Z9 mirrorless camera’s to get the job done and prefers pairing them with a fast 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for close-ups and the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 for capturing distant subjects.
When it comes to video, her equipment includes the formidable RED V-Raptor for handling substantial filming tasks, while opting for the RED Komodo when seeking a lighter setup. As for lenses, her selection varies depending on the circumstances and subjects of the day, and asserts that opting for a 400mm f/2.8 lens is a foolproof choice for various scenarios.
Unforgettable moments out in the wild
Her lifelong love for reptiles reached its pinnacle while documenting Komodo dragons in Indonesia. The opportunity to capture these majestic creatures in their natural habitat fulfilled a long-standing dream, one that she’s been fortunate to have experienced twice, and one that she’ll never forget.
Another great memory was documenting a pangolin in her homeland, South Africa. This encounter stirred profound feelings knowing the severe challenges faced by pangolins due to rampant poaching. Harbouring serious doubts about ever encountering one in the wild, against all odds, she found herself in the presence of this elusive creature living happily and healthily. Although the moment was fleeting, her heart filled with joy and gratitude as tears of joy welled up in her eyes.
Shannon’s resilience shines through in everything she does, from her conservation efforts and photography endeavours. Her story is one of determination and passion. While she continues to pursue her dreams with unwavering dedication, her journey promises to be bright and inspiring. If you would like to follow along, you can read our latest blog post, Shannon Wild takes the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 lens for a test.
Leave A Comment