Erin Chung: Capturing the Uncaptured

Erin Chung is a junior at Archbishop Mitty and has become a rising star in the youth wildlife photography field. She first took an interest in wildlife photography when she was only eleven years old and initiated her career since then by taking simple and straightforward photos of insects, plants, and birds in her backyard. Eventually, as her passion for this hobby grew, so did her arsenal of equipment with lenses and cameras. Today, she uses a DSLR Nikon D7100 and a Nikon 200-500 mm f/5.6E lens for most of her work. From Yellowstone, Wyoming to Herradura, Costa Rica, Erin has captured vivid and engaging photos of a plethora of bird species, such as green-crowned brilliant hummingbirds, golden eagles, and scarlet macaws; these vivid emerald greens and deep nudes of the birds immerse the viewer’s eye in a new world of frigid fields and humid canopies. Having been a photographer for many years, Chung has developed many important photography skills, practicing techniques such as the two thirds rule, frame within a frame, and leading lines (a visual tactic which incorporates lines to guide the audience’s eyes to the main focus of the photo).  These techniques help turn a basic photograph into a work of art, and Chung has become a master at displaying these in her work. With her breathtaking shots of animals (which can be viewed on her website), she has claimed her rightful spot as number one in a multitude of competitions: in 2019, she was awarded a position in the shortlist of Bird Photography of the Year; in 2020, she became a finalist in the Sienna International Photo Awards;  and, finally, in 2021, she earned an honorable mention in the 31st edition of Memorial Maria Luisa. Overall, Erin Chung utilizes a large set of skills and has a bright photography career ahead of her.