Michaela Skovranova OM magazine

Michaela
Skovranova
Nat Geo and environmental photographer Michaela
shares images from around Australia and beyond...
How did you get into nature
photography?
During my photography studies, I
worked as an educational officer at
a local wildlife park; I would often
come in early in the morning or
stay late after work to practice my
photography. Eventually, I was able
to combine both of my passions and
I began documenting nature.
What are your current main bodies
and lenses?
My primary set-up is the OM-D
E-M1 Mark III and M.Zuiko 25mm
F1.2 PRO, which I switch with the
M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 PRO often.
For underwater, I use the OM-D E-M1
Mark II in the PT-EP14 underwater
housing. Lenses will vary depending
on the subject matter; my favourites
are the M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
or the wider M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8
PRO as they both provide me with a
great range to work with.
For video, I love using the M.Zuiko
12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO. The built-in
stabilisation both in the PRO lens
and the camera allows me to
capture beautiful visuals without the
use of a tripod.
Photographer bio
INTERVIEW
OM | ISSUE 001 | JAN-MAR 2021
Country: Australia
Speciality: Environment
and underwater
mishku.com.au
The built-in stabilisation
both in the PRO lens and
the camera allows me to
capture beautiful visuals
without the use of a tripod
(1) OM-D E-M1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 12-40mm
F2.8 PRO
1/1250s | F4 | ISO 200
(2) OM-D E-M1X | M.Zuiko 300mm F4.0 IS PRO
1/2500s | F6.3 | ISO 320
(3) OM-D E-M1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 12mm F2
1/320s | F6.3 | ISO 250
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Talk us through some of your
favourite photographs.
Just a few metres underwater at
one of the last remaining Australian
sea lion colonies I got to share a
beautiful moment with the local sea
lions (1). I dropped down underwater
where they were resting and playing,
and stayed, holding my breath as
long as I could. We both utilised our
dive reflex: an evolutionary trait we
share. Australian sea lions breathe
oxygen, just like us. They talk to each
other, tease, and collaborate with
each other.
In Roebuck Bay, Yawuru Country,
I captured an image of migratory
shorebirds (2), which undertake
some of the longest migrations of
any species. Many of these birds will
travel thousands of kilometres for
days on end back to their breeding
sites in the yellow sea, with some
flying all the way to Siberia. What an
incredible journey to make.
At Byron Bay, the Julian Rocks
Nguthungulli Nature Reserve is a
protected nature reserve in New
South Wales, Australia. It’s a place
where the warm and cool currents
meet, creating an incredibly vibrant
ecosystem, forming a unique habitat

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