Shanna Baker

@shannabaker.bsky.social

Senior editor at bioGraphic, focussed on narrative features. Former features editor at Hakai Magazine 🐟

Thank goodness for levelheaded art directors because I would def publish stories with 100+ photos crammed in them if I were left alone. Here's one of the outtakes from my recent feature story on the Nisga'a eulachon harvest: a fisherman enveloped by pungent steam as he cooks a batch of "grease"

A man is enveloped by steam coming off a vat of cooking fish as he holds the handle of a large ladle

Robert Capa's mantra—"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough"—runs through the minds of photographers/videographers like tv ticker tape. It can be SO hard to self police and hold back, but when we get too close to wildlife, the animals suffer www.biographic.com/who-watches-...

Who Watches the Watchers? - bioGraphic

The recent charging of prominent documentarians in British Columbia court is raising important questions about the ethics of wildlife videography.

biographic.com

Many of you likely saw "Island of the Sea Wolves", the 2022 Netflix series about British Columbia's coastal wildlife. But what you _didn't_ see was the three minutes of illegally-obtained killer whale footage that a BC court judge barred from being included in the series. 🧵🐙📷📽️🧪

Who Watches the Watchers? - bioGraphic

The recent charging of prominent documentarians in British Columbia court is raising important questions about the ethics of wildlife videography.

biographic.com

“For me, Hakai was a sure bet for education. I learned about butterflies, bats, urchins, and rats, and loved every minute of it. I could count on awe and delight, often right from the headline”—what a heartwarming tribute to Hakai longreads.com/2025/01/10/l... Thank you @kristastevens.bsky.social

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week - Longreads

Featuring stories from Michelle Shephard, Adrienne Mason, Dylan Levi King, Sara Mitchell, and Saskia Solomon.

longreads.com

Well, @hakaimagazine.com has reached the end of its lifespan. It pains me to see it slip into history, though I'm so grateful I was along for nearly the whole ride. We did important work, but also had a lot of fun. Indulge me in sharing a few fave behind-the-scenes memories, in no particular order?

The final @hakaimagazine.com story acknowledges the critical role of First Nations rescuers. Beautifully written, deeply reported, and truly eye opening, this piece encapsulates what we have striven to achieve with our stories over the past 9+ years. hakaimagazine.com/features/the...

The First First Responders | Hakai Magazine

When disaster strikes along British Columbia’s coast, Indigenous rescuers are often the first on the scene. Government-led initiatives are now formally recognizing that work.

hakaimagazine.com

I was deeply disappointed by the lack of nature/science/climate/enviro on many major end-of-year book lists—so I decided to make my own! Introducing: ✨🎁📚 The 2024 Holiday Gift Guide to Nature & Science Books ✨🎁📚 Please share: Let's make this go viral in time for Black Friday / holiday shopping!

A collage of book covers of new nature & science books. Featured here are Atlas Obscura Wild Life, Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party, Every Living Thing, Alien Earths, Becoming Earth, and Deep WaterA collage of book covers of new nature & science books. Featured here are Frostbite, The Inner Clock, How to Kill an Asteroid, The Great River, The Last Fire Season, and Hoof BeatsA collage of book covers of new nature & science books. Featured here are The Serviceberry, Not the End of the World, Nature's Ghosts, Meet the Neighbors, The Light Eaters, and Our MoonA collage of book covers of new nature & science books. Featured here are Turning to Stone, The Weight of Nature, What If We Get It Right?, Waves in An Impossible Sea, The Tree Collectors, and Why We Remember

I’ve been immensely proud of the work we’ve done at @hakaimagazine.com over the past 9+ years and similarly impressed with what colleagues at bioGraphic have accomplished. Now we have the opportunity to join forces! In 2025, the two magazines will operate as one—as the new and improved bioGraphic! 🎉