- Giancarlo Velmarch

My fascination with wildlife began long before I could put it into words. My family was amazed that I could easily identify species they had never even heard of. Since then, my passion for wildlife and conservation grew and became an important part of my childhood. Growing up, I spent countless hours watching wildlife documentaries, learning to identify species, and dreaming of exploring the natural world. At thirteen, I bought my first digital camera with my own savings and discovered a way to combine my curiosity about wildlife with my passion for photography.
For years, I focused on documenting animals and their behavior. I began collaborating with wildlife reserves and conservation organizations, from placing camera traps to study big cats in Cabo Corrientes to teaching bird photography with the Audubon Society in San Diego. During my gap year, I interned with Bird Uganda Safaris, where I photographed Uganda’s remarkable birdlife and wildlife while learning about species behavior and ecology that were new to me as a young naturalist.
However, while studying Environmental Science at the University of Navarra, my perspective began to change. Through collaborations with conservation NGOs, local communities, and scientific research projects, I realized photography could do more than showcase nature's beauty. It could tell the stories behind conservation efforts, reveal the challenges facing wildlife, and help people understand their connection to the natural world.

Since then, my work has taken me across Europe, the Americas, and Africa, documenting subjects ranging from bird diversity and wildlife research to human–wildlife coexistence. I have collaborated with organizations and field teams in Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Spain, Mexico, and Costa Rica, learning from people working on the front lines of conservation. My stories have also been published in national outlets such as UNAM in México and global outlets such as National Geographic España, marking an important milestone in my journey as a conservation photojournalist.
Today, I combine my background in environmental science with photography and visual storytelling to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding. I believe that meaningful conservation photography goes beyond capturing a beautiful image: it requires commitment to the subject, respect for the people involved, and a clear purpose.
My goal as a conservation photographer is not only to show what exists in the natural world, but to help people appreciate what we still have time to protect.


In recent years, I have collaborated with conservation projects across the globe, documenting their vital efforts to protect native and endangered species.
En los útimos años, he colaborado con proyectos de conservación en todo el mundo, documentando su labor esencial en la protección de especies nativas y en peligro.
Step into the world of conservation through immersive storytelling and documentary photography. Explore the projects, meet the people behind them, and witness the wildlife and local communities these efforts strive to protect.

From tropical rainforests and African savannas to rugged mountains and remote coastlines, every journey has offered an opportunity to witness nature in its purest form. This collection showcases my favorite wildlife and travel photographs from expeditions around the world, celebrating the extraordinary diversity of landscapes, species, and cultures that have shaped my perspective as a wildlife photographer and conservation storyteller.
Desde selvas tropicales y sabanas africanas hasta montañas escarpadas y costas remotas, cada viaje ha sido una oportunidad para contemplar la naturaleza en su estado más puro. Esta colección reúne mis fotografías favoritas de vida silvestre y viajes realizadas durante expediciones alrededor del mundo, celebrando la extraordinaria diversidad de paisajes, especies y culturas que han moldeado mi visión como fotógrafo de conservación.

Youth category; two finalist-images

Changing planet category; winner
Storytelling: community montphoto category winner

Custodians of the land category finalist

Article from my project working with local communities in the Okavango Delta in Botswana photographing the coexistance between people and elephants

Article from my project working with Espino´s family in the macaw sanctuary in Cabo Corrientes, Mexico
December 14, 2021 To whom it may concern: This fall, I have had the pleasure of working with Giancarlo Velmarch as a volunteer for San Diego Audubon Society. Giancarlo came to me seeking opportunities to lead field trips. When we receive requests like this we are usually both excited and nervous, because field trip leadership is a very special skill. In order to do this task, one must be charismatic, have the ability to share their knowledge while also encouraging trip participants to contribute their knowledge, and have an interest in shepherding participants to a higher level of knowledge and confidence. They have to know their birds and also know how to be with people. It is very difficult to find volunteers who exhibit all of these qualities.
I needed a few extra leaders for the San Diego Bird Photography Festival, and brought him in to help. He proved to have all of the necessary skills we seek. We had not done walks that centered on bird photography before. He brought his equipment, pointed out birds, and helped people get better views. The walks at the festival were so successful, we added them to our monthly Bird Walks schedule. Giancarlo helped launch this new program. He was able to lead two field trips for us before moving on for school and travels. We are going to continue offering these field trips and adding leaders. It wouldn’t have happened without Giancarlo!
I should also mention that Giancarlo has integrity and puts effort behind following through with his commitments. When I first asked him to help out, I was unaware that he did not have a car. In San Diego, it is difficult to get to all corners of the county without a vehicle. His lack of a vehicle was not a barrier to his participation. He was always where he needed to be with the equipment he needed.
He is definitely a person who goes the extra mile. I enjoyed working with him.
Jen Hajj Events and Membership Coordinator San Diego Audubon Society
4010 Morena Blvd Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92117

5TH July, 2022
To whom it may concern
This is to confirm that Mr. Giancarlo volunteer at Mara Siana Conservancy
for one month (April 2022). Mara Siana Conservancy is a community project
supported by WWF Kenya, whose principal aim is to conserve wildlife and
improve the livelihoods of the local people through public-private partnerships
with tourism investors.
As a manager of this conservancy, I consistently interacted with Mr.
Giancarlo on several occasions. I found him to be consistently pleasant in
tackling all assignments with dedication and smile. He is a take-charge
person who was able to present creative ideas and communicating the
biodiversity benefits to the conservancy and community.
He exceptionally participated in conservancy photography that sometimes
entailed taking photos and editing them to give the correct pixels of fine
details. He also helped the conservancy develop its professional website.
Mr. Giancarlo was responsible and volunteered to jump in and help out with
any task regardless from mundane to the challenging. He therefore blends
a well-organized, task-oriented style with the aforementioned sensitivity to
the accustomed needs of the community and the organization. We
therefore highly recommend him for future opportunities in an organization/
institution setting.
Should you ever need any additional information regarding his stay with us,
do not hesitate to contact me through indicated address.
Yours faithfully,
Evans Sitati
Manager for Mara Siana Conservancy
P.O Box 724
Narok, Kenya

I will respond as promptly as possible