Danial McPherson
Growing up in rural Australia and spending my early adult years exploring the country fostered a deep love of nature, wildlife, and adventure, but it was in Canada that I discovered my passion for wildlife photography.
Living in the mountains of British Columbia, with frequent wildlife encounters and my first experience of the Northern Lights, inspired me to start capturing the natural world through photography. Between seasonal jobs, I travelled across the USA, visiting national parks including Yellowstone, the Rocky Mountains, and Yosemite to photograph wildlife and explore some of North America’s most spectacular landscapes. I later worked as a photographer and river guide for a white-water rafting company, combining adventure, photography, and life outdoors.
After returning to Australia to save and prepare for my next adventure abroad, I travelled to Sweden and spent a month interning in Abisko. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Arctic landscape, its wildlife, and the Aurora Borealis. Seeing the Northern Lights at their full intensity remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. My time in Abisko led to work as a sled dog guide and musher in both Abisko and Kiruna, allowing me to spend even more time immersed in the Arctic environment.
When the COVID pandemic brought me back to Australia, I completed a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, deepening my understanding of wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit. During my studies, I joined a research team at a private game reserve in South Africa, contributing to wildlife population research and gaining valuable field experience in conservation.
