Episode 048 - Clay Bolt fascinates the world by highlighting the smallest animals
Clay Bolt is a Natural History and Conservation Photographer specializing in macro and close-up photography with an emphasis on invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. His images and projects have been featured by organizations and publications such as National Geographic, The Nature Conservancy, Scientific American, Outdoor Photographer, Audubon Magazine, New Scientist, BBC Wildlife and many others. Originally from South Carolina, Clay now lives in Bozeman, Montana where he works as the communications lead for World Wildlife Fund's Northern Great Plains Program. He is an Associate Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). Clay was a leading voice in the fight to protect the rusty-patched bumble bee as a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act, which became North America's first federally protected native bee in January, 2017. In 2009 Clay co-founded the international nature photography project "Meet Your Neighbours" (www.meetyourneighbours.net), which has grown to include dozens of photographers representing locations around the world. The mission at MYN is to reconnect people with the wildlife that lives within their own communities. In 2012, in partnership with The Highlands Biological Foundation, he co-founded Backyard Naturalists, whose mission is to inspire an appreciation of the natural world in children through science, art and technology. Clay's current major focus is on North America's native bees and the important roles that they play in our lives. Clay is passionate about spreading the message that a connection to nature begins at home and is always seeking out new ways to promote this concept through his photography, writing, presentations and community involvement. For the past decade Clay has regularly partnered with organizations to develop imagery that can be used to support conservation. He is a past president for the North American Nature Photography Association and serves on the board of CREA, an organization dedicated to conserving critical habitat in the Panamanian rainforest.