Chris Gamel has spent the majority of his career incorporating a unique blend of teaching, wildlife research, and nature photography. For the past 15 years, Chris has conducted wildlife research around the world, including raptor biology in southern California, tropical reforestation in Australia, and wildlife management in East Africa. His behavioral study on Elf Owl habitat use in south Texas appeared in the Journal of Raptor Research. His work on Cape fur seal reproduction and maternal care in South Africa resulted in a doctorate from Texas A&M University in Wildlife Biology. He has published numerous articles on the natural world and served as an editor for Wildlife in focus: the coastal bend wildlife photo contest I. He also serves as a contributing columnist for PhotoMigrations.com, specializing in articles on Photoshop and digital photography.

In addition to his literary works, Chris is an accomplished wildlife photographer who has won recognition in both the Valley Land Fund and Coastal Bend photography contests. One of Chris’s Photoshop creations was Highly Honored in the 2006 Nature’s Best photography contest. His wildlife images have been published in a variety of venues, including Nature’s Best, Birding, Wildlife in Focus: the coastal bend wildlife photo contest I, Creatures on the Edge: wildlife along the lower Rio Grande, La Pensa Grafica, and the Pitzer College External Studies Department. In 2004, Chris’s dramatic capture of an egret in flight received the Grand Prize in the Utah State Fair Photography Contest. He has been an active member of the North American Nature Photography Association for the past 8 years and served as the chair of the Education Committee. His pursuit of wildlife photography and research has taken him to 26 different countries, including several trips to Africa.

When not in the field, Chris teaches high school and college courses. He has worked as adjunct faculty at the University of Utah, Weber State University, Salt Lake Community College, and Northwest Vista College where he taught classes ranging from "Animal Behavior" to "Photoshop for Photographers." Chris lives with his wife and two children in San Antonio. He currently teaches Photography, Digital Media, and Environmental Science at The Winston School in San Antonio.