Whether photographing a beloved farm animal, a curious household pet, or a colorful reef creature thousands of miles from home, Gloria’s goal is the same: to help people recognize the connection we share with the living beings around us.
“My work and pleasure is about expanding the community of people who understand and feel the sentience and empathy of the non-human life that shares our planet,” Gloria says. In other words, she hopes people will recognize that animals are more than subjects in a photograph—they are living creatures with their own awareness, behaviors, and unique ways of experiencing the world.
That passion began long before she ever picked up scuba gear.
Growing up on a New England dairy farm, Gloria spent her childhood surrounded by cows, cats, sheep, and countless other animals. The experience shaped her appreciation for the natural world and instilled a lifelong belief in the interconnectedness of all living things.
“You can take the girl off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl,” she says.
In 1985, Gloria made McLean her home while serving in what would become a remarkable 47-year career in federal service. She served first as an active duty naval officer and later as a navy reserve and civilian intelligence officer in the national security sector. During the final decade of her career, she led intelligence community equities as part of an all of government effort to understand and defeat transnational criminal trafficking of wildlife and fisheries.. After retiring in 2025, she began developing a nonprofit organization with former colleagues to continue advancing wildlife protection efforts.
Today, Gloria has completed more than 1,500 dives around the globe, photographing marine life in destinations including Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Alaska, Bonaire, the Solomon Islands, and beyond. Equipped with Nikon cameras, specialized underwater housings, strobes, and lenses, she descends beneath the waves in search of moments that reveal the beauty, intelligence, and individuality of ocean life.
For Gloria, the underwater world offers endless wonder.
“The parallel universe of sea life in all its colors, textures, artful patterns, swirls, and spirals is bizarre, delicate, and brilliant,” she explains.
Her photographs capture creatures both familiar and extraordinary—from reef fish and octopuses to penguins, manta rays, and countless marine species many people will never encounter firsthand. Through her images, she invites viewers to see beyond appearances and appreciate the remarkable wonder of life on our planet.
Gloria’s work has earned recognition through publications and competitions, including Nature’s Best Magazine, Beneath the Sea, underwaterphotography.com international competitions, and the Nature Visions Photo Expo in the Washington, D.C. region.
Yet awards have never been her primary motivation.
Instead, she hopes her photographs inspire curiosity, compassion, and a deeper sense of appreciation for the natural world.
“I will have succeeded if, in a captured moment of mutual regard, I have stirred one more heart to speak to another, or caused one more mind to newly imagine with an unlike creature that sense of mutual sentience and kinship that is there, waiting to be recognized.”
That message feels especially relevant in this month’s Kids & Pets issue. For many children, their first meaningful connection with animals begins with a family pet, often forming the foundation for empathy, responsibility, and a lifelong appreciation of nature.
Gloria believes those early connections matter. Whether observing a playful puppy in the backyard, caring for a family cat, or watching a sea turtle glide through tropical waters, each moment offers an opportunity to better understand the living world around us.
As Gloria continues her photography and conservation work, she remains committed to sharing images and stories of animals in all their forms. Through her lens, she encourages others to slow down, take notice, and appreciate the beauty and character of the natural world around them.
Tips from an expert: the best way to photograph your pets:
- Start by making sure the subject feels safe.
-Take time to observe and get to know your pet's behaviors and reactions so you don't miss an opportunity.
- Get down to your pet's level for a more compelling aspect, and focus on the eyes to help tell the story.
- Be aware of the background, and seek backgrounds that will allow the pet to stand out.
- Think about photos that capture relationships—your pet with you, or your pet with other people and animals.