krista schlyer
conservation writing & photography
About
Krista Schlyer is an award-winning photographer and writer focusing on conservation, biodiversity and public lands. She has worked throughout North America, from the arid borderlands of the American West and fire-forests of the Southeast, to the urban rivers of Washington DC. Schlyer is a Senior Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers and winner of the Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography, National Outdoor Book Award, and Vision Award from the North American Nature Photographers Association.
Contact Krista: kris_schly@yahoo.com or use the form at the bottom of this page.
Search Krista’s image database with the International League of Conservation Photographers.
Intro photo: Nathan Dappen
BACKGROUND
Since obtaining a master’s degree in journalism in 1997, Schlyer has been contributing stories and photography to magazines, books and websites, including BBC, National Parks, Defenders, High Country News, Audubon, and The Nature Conservancy. Her stories and other publications have focused on wildlife like the desert tortoise, bison, prairie dog, and larger environmental issues including global warming, wildlife migration corridors and urban waterways.
Over the past 10 years, Schlyer’s work has focused heavily on documenting the US-Mexico borderlands and the changes brought about by US border and immigration policy. This project has included leading a 17-member expedition along the entire 2,000-mile border with fellow photographers in the International League of Conservation Photographers. Schlyer curated a traveling exhibit from that expedition that has shown throughout the United States, including shows in the US House and Senate.This project included a book about the borderlands titled Continental Divide: Wildlife, People and the Border Wall, which has received national recognition, including the National Outdoor Book Award for 2013 and the “Best of the Best” of university presses honor from the American Library Association.
Schlyer is the author of two other books, including Almost Anywhere: Road Trip Ruminations on Love, Nature, National Parks and Nonsense, and River of Redemption: Almanac of Life on the Anacostia, winner of the 2019 National Outdoor Book Award.
Awards
NANPA Vision Award, 2015
Sierra Club Ansel Adams Conservation Photography Award, 2014
American Library Association “Best of the Best”
Reviews
Review of Continental Divide in High Country News
Review of Continental Divide in Outdoor Photographer
Review of Continental Divide in the Tucson Weekly
Recommendation of Continental Divide by the Texas Observer
Review of Continental Divide by the Society of Environmental Journalists
Review of Continental Divide by WildPlanet
Recommendation by Get Out Chattanooga
Television news story on Americas Now
Included in 7 Books all Outdoor Photographers Should Read
Recent Publications/Interviews
Story in Defenders magazine about US-Mexico border wall
Photos for National Wildlife magazine story about US-Mexico border wall
Photo essay in National Wildlife magazine about pitcher plants
Story in Orion about US-Mexico border wall
Photos for National Wildlife magazine story about Anacostia River
Profile of Krista on National Geographic website
Interview with Krista on NPR’s The 1a
Interview with Krista in Orion
Interview with Krista on The Kojo Nnamdi Show
Slideshow of Krista’s work on BBC
Interview with Krista on GreenSense
South Bend Public Television “Ask an Expert” appearance
Interview with Lana Straub on Texas Public Radio
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krista schlyer 
Pingback: “Continental Divide: Wildlife, People, and the Border Wall” – a short review and an interview with Krista Schlyer | Biocentered
I love your work and am so grateful that you are increasing awareness of the disastrous effects on wildlife that the Border Wall has caused. Thank you.
Thank you very much Cristina, I really appreciate that!
Pingback: Wilderness: As it Was in the Beginning – News Watch
Fantastic presentation, Krista. Thank you for bringing your work to Salt Lake City and the Stegner Center.
Thank you Dennis!
Hi Krista: Looking forward to reading your most recent book. I knew Ansel Adams and his relationship with the Sierra Club was part of my dissertation. He’d be proud to know you have won an award bearing his name. Your work is exceptional.
Thank you very much Art – very kind indeed.
Pingback: Continental Divide: Borderlands, Wildlife, People and the Wall » School of Theology | Blog Archive | Boston University
Pingback: Wildlife and the Border between Mexico and the United States – KTSW 89.9
Excellent job on 1-A, Krista. Thanks for your continued fight against the wall. We are convinced that truth and justice will ultimately prevail.
Pingback: Continental Divide: Photo Exhibit Explores Border Wall’s Impact on Wildlife | YubaNet
I have put info on my Facebook page and have sent it my local paper!!!
Pingback: Continental Divide: Borderlands, Wildlife, People and the Wall | School of Theology
Well done and congrats on the accomplishments!
Just thinking about you the other day when I came across this Leonard Cohen quote:
If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick all the time