Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Washington State Master Naturalist, PADI Divemaster, AASI Snowboard Instructor

Karen Edwards first experienced the power of her camera when living on Kwajalein Atoll. As she posted images online, friends and family enthusiastically learned about the tropical reef alongside her. Over time, Karen realized the lagoon was only a remnant of the beautiful reef it once was. Her images had made it seem like paradise. Contrite, she began to purposefully document the rubble of bleached and broken corals, and included images of the world’s garbage that constantly washed ashore. It was this change in her photography focus, when she began to purposefully show a more truthful portrayal of a habitat or species in the condition that she saw it, that she began her journey of conservation photography.

Karen looks for opportunities to put her landscape ecology knowledge into action through her conservation photography stories. She encourages normalizing coexistence with wildlife, as well as supports actions that increase biodiversity and create expansive habitat corridors.

Karen is an emerging conservation photographer who lives with her family in Spokane, Washington. She enjoys photographing all things Wild but her heart will always be with the ocean.