Emanuel Soza-Foias (he/him) is a 22-year-old primarily self-taught photographer with six years of experience, specializing in wildlife portraits, aerial photography, and landscapes.

Growing up in the small, rural town of Williamstown, Massachusetts, Soza-Foias was deeply influenced by his natural surroundings, spending much of his time outdoors exploring local creeks, ponds, and forests. A pivotal moment in his childhood was witnessing a herd of deer running across a snowy field beneath the northern lights, which sparked his interest in nature’s beauty.

His interest in wildlife was further fueled by flipping through the pages of National Geographic magazines that his grandparents kept around the house and staring at the various species. His journey into photography began with the purchase of a camera, which he shared with his older brother. With his new camera, his passion for wildlife deepened through the countless hours spent observing and documenting nature’s beauty. He started by photographing small songbirds, deer, and waterfowl near his home and now captures species across the United States and abroad.

Soza-Foias’s fascination with the natural world led him to pursue a degree in Zoology and a minor in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont. Through his photography, he hopes to convey stories with his images that can be utilized by nature organizations to educate and engage the public on conservation efforts. One of his first steps in achieving this goal was through an internship with the Information and Outreach Department of Vermont Fish and Wildlife. He captured images of several species, with the most notable being shots of wild turkeys, which have been shared by the department and featured in various news articles.