Old Is Gold - George Shiras III

World’s First Wildlife Photographer.

- Rahul Batra

Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, a lawyer and a politician, George Shiras III was the world’s first wildlife photographer who also pioneered in flash photography. Shiras began photographing in 1889 and is credited as “the father of wildlife photography” by the National Geographic for his early use of camera traps and flash photography while shooting animals. 

During his youth, Shiras’ interests were akin to those of a hunter or a fisherman. However, as he grew up and his scope of knowledge widened, he became a naturalist and a wildlife protector. In 1983, he graduated from Yale Law School and commenced the practice of his profession. By 1989, Shiras became a member of the House of Representatives for the state of Pennsylvania and finally switched his gun for a more intriguing instrument: the camera. During the day, he was a professional lawyer and a politician; while in the night, he would go down in the dark wilderness and travel around the Whitefish Lake State Park in his canoe to capture enthralling pictures of the wild animals.