Following His Passion: Gavin Koester

Batesville native is a wildlife photographer

(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – Gavin Koester has always had a passion for wildlife and photography. 

He got a biology degree from the University of Cincinnati after graduating from Batesville in 2018. 

“A lot of biologists nowadays get to be outside and be in nature but that is only 10 percent of their job. The other part of their job is being behind a desk,” Koester said. 

Gavin wanted to find a career that allowed him to be outside to experience nature and put out a good message about conservation. 

He had a mutual contact with National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski who lives in Boulder, Colorado. 

Last year, Gavin moved out to Colorado with the willingness to be an intern or anything that could help get a foot-in-the-door with the photographer. 

He now works for the company called Triaje Creative, which was founded by Ladsinksi and photographer Tommy Joyce. 

The 812 first met Gavin when Ladzinski’s team traveled to Batesville to document the solar eclipse for Canon and The Weather Channel. 

Koester during the solar eclipse

While the crew returned to Colorado right after the eclipse, Koester decided to spend a few extra days at home. 

We met up with him again on Wednesday when he went to Pipe Creek in Franklin County to capture images of fish, snakes, and salamanders. 

“We have the highest biodiversity of salamanders in the world here in the Midwest. But, there are also all these vibrant fish here. If you go fishing here, you think it’s only bass and bluegill. But there are fish here that are vibrant blue or the rainbow darters that look like a rainbow of colors,” Koester said. 

It took him just moments to find a snake and capture an image that ended up like this. 

Koester captured this snake at Pipe Creek

Koester is just beginning his wildlife photography career and has plans to utilize his love of scuba diving to capture underwater creatures. 

Gavin has already traveled to about 20 countries and received an award for a photo he captured in Asia. 

But, he is not doing photography to get rich. He hopes one day to sell prints with half the proceeds going toward conversation. 

“If I get a picture of a panda bear or something, I want fifty percent of the proceeds to go to panda bear conservation,” he said. 

Gavin is passionate about telling a story through the animals he photographs, and to help protect them from extinction. 

Koester also has a passion for underwater species

“We have thousands of species every year that are going extinct at an extreme rate. So, anyway I can possibly help and that’s why I want to do photography. I think a photo can help on a bigger scale,” he said. 

His message to other young adults who read this story is simple: Follow your passion and do something you love. 

“My parents wanted me to focus on something that makes money, but I wanted to do what I love every day,” Koester said. 

You can follow him by clicking here.