Nature Photography Day is June 15. To celebrate, FIU News sat down with just a few of the Panthers who love wildlife so much that they’re using photography to share the wonders of the natural world with everyone.

In this piece, we feature alumna Kirsten Hines MS ’02, who travels around the globe to photograph some of the most amazing animals on the planet. Tune into FIU News this week to read the entire series, spotlighting various Panther photographers and the stories behind some of their favorite photos. Nature Photography Day is designated by the North American Nature Photography Association and is meant to promote an appreciation of nature photography and the role photography plays in helping people learn about wildlife. 

Kirsten Hines MS ’02 can’t imagine a life far away from nature. She is a wildlife photographer searching for beauty, a biology alumna who appreciates the science behind natural phenomena, and, perhaps most importantly, a human who ardently desires to remain connected to her environment.

“Nature has always been my passion, my safe place, my calm,” she says. “It’s where I draw inspiration.”

With a camera gifted to her by FIU classmates and armed with the knowledge she learned while earning her biology degree at the university, Hines set out on an adventure to explore the world 10 years ago.

She hiked the mountains of New Zealand, lived in Australia, taught English in China and worked on a boat in the Bahamas. With her camera by her side, Hines began to realize her calling.

Today, Hines is a nature photographer-writer who has authored or co-authored eight books, including the award-winning “Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey,” which was recently published.

Hines has continued traveling around the world, capturing the wonders of nature. She has photographed gazelles in Dubai, zebras in Tanzania, seals in Antarctica, birds in Costa Rica, an elusive panther (and her cubs) in Florida, and many more animals across the globe.

She gave us a look behind the scenes of some of her favorite photos.