Brandon Cole Named Ranger Rick Magazine Photographer of the Year
RESTON, Va. (May 12, 2014) – Ranger Rick magazine and National Wildlife Federation are proud to announce that Brandon Cole, of Spokane, Washington, has been named winner of the Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year award. This award is given to the photographer who best advances the mission of the children’s magazine with exciting, informative, and spectacular eye-popping photographs.
Cole’s photos appear this year in major stories in Ranger Rick magazine and capture a wide range of stunning marine life including manta rays, humpback whales, starfish, and other exotic sea creatures.
“Brandon has mastered the art of underwater photography,” says Mary Dalheim, editorial director of Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick Jr. magazines at the National Wildlife Federation. “As a skilled photographer with a degree in marine biology, Brandon brings magazine articles to life by portraying exquisite marine animals in their natural habitats. He has truly scoured the globe to capture underwater imagery that awes Ranger Rick readers,” Dalheim adds.
Brandon is a dedicated storyteller whose work is published internationally within critically acclaimed magazines such as National Geographic, Newsweek, People, and other publications. His dedication to marine conservation and passion for connecting children and nature makes him a fitting partner for National Wildlife and Ranger Rick.
As a Ranger Rick reader himself, Cole commented on how the magazine influenced his career. “Ranger Rick is wonderfully illustrated with interesting stories on not only ‘normal’ animals but exotic species,” said Cole. “I read, re-read, and hoarded years and years of Ranger Rick issues. Twenty years into my career, I’ve only just begun. There’s still so much to do!”
Along with this distinction, Brandon receives a $1,000 prize and an announcement in the May 2014 issue of Ranger Rick.
“Sharing photos with kids of the wonders beneath the waves is the most rewarding part of my career,” said Cole. “I hope that my work helps encourage kids to take the plunge, explore Ocean’s kingdom, and speak for marine wildlife and conservation of the ecosystem.”
Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick Jr. are the award-winning nature magazines for children published by the National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest conservation organization dedicated to protecting wildlife for our children’s future. Delighting kids for more than 45 years, the mission of Ranger Rick is to inspire in its readers a greater understanding of the natural world, a deep love of nature and wildlife, and a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.
For more National Wildlife Federation news, visit: www.nwf.org/news.
National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization, inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.
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Christina Batcheler
703-438-6098
National Wildlife Federation is America's largest conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. Learn more at www.nwf.org.