Biography
Colleen is a wildlife photographer, writer and educator based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her focus is on Canadian wildlife and she is passionate about photographing animals in their natural surroundings, from the Rocky Mountains to the prairies.
Colleen’s hope is that her images will help foster a connection between the viewer and her wild subjects, raising awareness to protect both the animals and their natural habitats. She strongly believes in ethical photography practices and all of her images are of wild animals only – nothing captive or baited.
Colleen’s photographs have been featured in publications worldwide, including Audubon, Photo Life, Canadian Geographic, Wild Planet Photo and Nature’s Best.
Leader/Educator/ Writer
Instructor for Canon Canada - Canon’s Online Classes - An online photography program with the goal of inspiring individuals to explore the world around them, take beautiful pictures of the things they love, and learn technical skills that will last a lifetime.
Contributor and Leader for OFFBEAT - A cutting-edge photography community providing meaningful online interaction, web-based resources and workshops.
Board Vice Chair, Advocacy Committee Member, and Ambassador for Exposed Wildlife Conservancy - A nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to creating visual content to inform, educate and enable change in how Canadian wildlife and wilderness is managed and protected.
Workshop leader for Canadian Wildlife Photography Tours - Tours and workshops by professional wildlife photographer John E. Marriott.
Expedition Photographer for Gold Star Canadian Tours and Canadian Classic Tours.
Creative Content Provider for Travel Alberta - A tourism marketing agency of the Government of Alberta.
(Photo by Dave Brosha)
Recent Press/Events
Instructor for Canon Online Class - ‘Photo Foundations On-Demand’ - Canon Canada, November 2022
Guest on Outdoor Photography Podcast - Episode 75 - September 2022
Product Specialist for Canon Canada - Canon 2021 EOS R System Road Trip - Canmore Satellite Event, September 2021
Shutterstock - ‘5 Female Photographers on Capturing the Beauty of Wildlife’, May 2021
Nature’s Best Photography International Awards 2020 - African Wildlife Highly Honored
Vallerret - International Women's Day: Vallerret Women in Photography, March 2021
Wild in Africa - Inspiring Individuals, August 2020
Vallerret - 12 Women Photographers You Should Be Following in 2020, March 2020
Barbie (Mattel) ‘You Can Be Anything’ Campaign - Wildlife Photojournalist Role Model, July 2019
Barbie & National Geographic ‘You Can Be Anything’ Campaign - Mentorship Video
Travel Alberta - ‘Where to Find Wildlife in Alberta’ Video, May 2019
Raincoast Conservation Foundation - One Shot for Coastal Carnivores Exhibit, Fall 2018
London Drugs - 5 More Photographers to Follow on Instagram, Summer 2018
Articles
Nature TTL - ‘How to Photograph Coyotes’, June 2022
Mediaplanet Canada, National Post & True North Living - ‘Q&A with Canadian Wildlife Photographers Colleen Gara and Peter Mather’, March 2022
Nature TTL - ‘Top Tips for Photographing Wildlife from your Vehicle’, February 2022
Nature TTL - ‘How to Photograph Bighorn Sheep’, December 2021
Nature TTL - ‘How to Photograph Elk’, September 2021
EXPOSED Wildlife Conservancy - ‘The Death of Wolf 1901’, May 2020
The Globe and Mail - ‘Five Tips for Taking Incredible Wildlife Photos’, June 2018
CCCA Magazine - ‘A Balancing Act with Nature’, Spring 2018
Published & Awards
Nature’s Best Photography International Awards 2020 (African Wildlife Highly Honored)
2016 Audubon Photography Awards (Honourable Mention & Top 100)
Alberta Wilderness Association, Wildlands Advocate Journal, Cover Image, Spring 2022
Canadian Geographic Kids Magazine, Canada’s Cutest Animals, March 2022
National Audubon Society, Annual Report 2020
Photo Life Magazine, June/July 2020
BBC Wildlife Magazine, Discover Wildlife, December 2019
Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Annual Report, 2018/19
Wild Planet Photo Magazine, Feb 2018, May 2017, November 2015 & September 2015
Nature’s Best Photography, Fall/Winter 2016
Audubon Magazine, May/June 2016
The Calgary Herald, April 2016
Canadian Geographic Magazine, June & April 2016
Canadian Geographic Magazine Pets Photography 2015 (Special Collector’s Edition)
Canadian Geographic Magazine Birds Photography 2015 (Special Collector’s Edition)
2015 Canadian Geographic Magazine Pets Photography Contest (Honourable Mention).
Stock Agencies
Getty Images (USA)
Shutterstock (USA)
Gear
Canon EOS R5
Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS II USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon Extender EF 1.4X III
(Photo by Paul Zizka)