MICHAEL
O. SNYDER
Michael O. Snyder is a photographer, filmmaker, and writer whose work sits at the intersection of environmental sustainability and social justice. As founder of Interdependent Pictures, has directed films in the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalaya, East Africa, and his home in rural Appalachia. He holds an MSc in Environmental Sustainability and uses his combined knowledge of visual storytelling and environmental conservation to create narratives that connect people to the other-than-human-world and drive social change.
His journalism work has been featured by National Geographic, The Guardian, Vox, Roads & Kingdoms, The Washington Post, High Country News, The Wild Magazine, Condé Nast, NPR, Political Science and Politics, Social Documentary and Beautiful Decay. His films have been selected to over 40 festivals and have taken home numerous awards.
He is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, a Blue Earth Photographer, a Fearless Photographer, and the co-founder of two environmental organizations. Mike has hiked the Appalachian and John Muir Trails, cycled across Europe and ridden trains across Siberia. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and son.
Michael O. Snyder is a photographer, filmmaker, and writer whose work sits at the intersection of environmental sustainability and social justice. As founder of Interdependent Pictures, has directed films in the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalaya, East Africa, and his home in rural Appalachia. He holds an MSc in Environmental Sustainability and uses his combined knowledge of visual storytelling and environmental conservation to create narratives that connect people to the other-than-human-world and drive social change.
His journalism work has been featured by National Geographic, The Guardian, Vox, Roads & Kingdoms, The Washington Post, High Country News, The Wild Magazine, Condé Nast, NPR, Political Science and Politics, Social Documentary and Beautiful Decay. His films have been selected to over 40 festivals and have taken home numerous awards.
He is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, a Blue Earth Photographer, a Fearless Photographer, and the co-founder of two environmental organizations. Mike has hiked the Appalachian and John Muir Trails, cycled across Europe and ridden trains across Siberia. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and son.
Michael O. Snyder is a photographer, filmmaker, and environmental scientist who uses his combined knowledge of visual storytelling and conservation to create narratives that connect people to the other-than-human-world and drive social change. As founder of Interdependent Pictures, he has directed films in the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalaya, and East Africa.
His work has been featured by National Geographic, The Guardian, VOX, BBC, Roads & Kingdoms, The Washington Post, High Country News, Condé Nast, NPR, Political Science & Politics, and Social Documentary. His films have been selected to over 40 festivals and have taken home numerous awards.
Snyder grew up on 12 acres of woods in Appalachia and spent much of his early adulthood exploring the remote corners of this planet. These experiences set in motion an ongoing love affair with the wildness of this world and desire to re-connect people to it. Snyder’s projects are often built through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and harness the power of positive storytelling in order to shift the narrative about what it means to live well on this planet without destroying it.
He holds an MSc in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, a Blue Earth Photographer, a Fearless Photographer, and the co-founder of two environmental organizations. An adventurer at heart, Mike has hiked the Appalachian and John Muir Trails, cycled across Europe, and ridden trains across Siberia. Originally from a small town in Appalachia, Snyder has lived around the world including long-term stints in Scotland, Japan, Hawaii, and New Zealand. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and son.
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Michael O. Snyder is a photographer, filmmaker, and environmental scientist who uses his combined knowledge of visual storytelling and conservation to create narratives that connect people to the other-than-human-world and drive social change. As founder of Interdependent Pictures, he has directed films in the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalaya, and East Africa.
His work has been featured by National Geographic, The Guardian, VOX, BBC, Roads & Kingdoms, The Washington Post, High Country News, Condé Nast, NPR, Political Science & Politics, and Social Documentary. His films have been selected to over 40 festivals and have taken home numerous awards.
Snyder grew up on 12 acres of woods in Appalachia and spent much of his early adulthood exploring the remote corners of this planet. These experiences set in motion an ongoing love affair with the wildness of this world and desire to re-connect people to it. Snyder’s projects are often built through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and harness the power of positive storytelling in order to shift the narrative about what it means to live well on this planet without destroying it.
He holds an MSc in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, a Blue Earth Photographer, a Fearless Photographer, and the co-founder of two environmental organizations. An adventurer at heart, Mike has hiked the Appalachian and John Muir Trails, cycled across Europe, and ridden trains across Siberia. Originally from a small town in Appalachia, Snyder has lived around the world including long-term stints in Scotland, Japan, Hawaii, and New Zealand. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and son.
Over the years I've taught numerous courses and workshops on photography and filmmaking at colleges, schools, and photography centers. I've also mentored young creatives as they rise through their careers. Passing on my knowledge of visual storytelling is one of the greatest joys of my work.
Currently, I am teaching courses in documentary storytelling at Social Documentary Network, and at my studio in the McGuffey Arts Center in Charlottesville, VA.
Social Documentary Network: https://socialdocumentary.net/
McGuffey Arts Center: https://www.mcguffeyartcenter.com/
I also take on a small handful of creatives each year who are looking to grow and would like one-on-one mentorship. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested: michaelosnyder@gmail.com
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"I can’t thank you enough for sharing all your experiences and insights during our class. Before I started the class, it was tough for me to imagine that I could actually make a “film” but you definitely provided valuable tools to hopefully start building a foundation in filmmaking. You were able to take very deep topics and distill them down to digestible pieces!"
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"Michael clearly knows how to teach. I say this as someone who in my main job is a professional educator. I have spent 20 years at this point in the classroom and you can quickly tell if someone knows how to frame material for others to learn from and how to navigate a discussion. Honestly I have taken numerous classes and workshops and Michael is easily one of the best I have had. Making good photographs is one thing, teaching is an entirely separate skill."
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"After Mike's course I got a $30k grant underwriting a series of 6 short photo stories on just transition. This is the largest chunk of funding I’ve received so far, and while I’d submitted the proposal before taking his class, the tips he provided in class were essential in helping me navigate some of the final stages. I have such deep appreciation for his help and insight."
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"He's an excellent instructor providing a progressive course of material, clear examples, and astute feedback"
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"His experience and expertise is clear and his generosity as an educator, sharing all that he could was amazing. Also he is incredibly personable and approachable which really encourages people to take part. I highly rate the experience of learning from Michael and would recommend anyone consider courses he does in the future, and would certainly signup myself!"
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"The organized (almost academic) way Michael organized the material. I would not be exaggerating if I say I got exactly what I was searching for. I've been seeking a step by step approach to photo documentary/journalism; and MS was able to present the material in an easy to understand way. He gave enough structure while still allowing for creativity. I"ve taken alot of "photo workshop" some from famous photographers (including Magnum). Although I learned something from each, I didn't have many take-a-aways or skills to apply to my own projects. Michael gave us tools that we can use."
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"Michael is a great instructor and really knows how to inform your work. I definitely feel like what he shared through the course will be useful well beyond the class and will improve my storytelling in science through photos. I love Mike's passion for the environment. He's a great instructor! I'd take another class with him"
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"What I loved: Mike's broad experience as a photographer, a photojournalist and a videographer; his easy style as an instructor; his patience with students with a wide range of experience; the photographic resources he provided; the details of his lecture notes; the toolkit he provided the class; the constructive feedback he provided on our projects."
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"Michael is an excellent instructor- always prepared and attentive to the participants. He is well studied and knows how to relate his knowledge and experience to the needs of the participants- what we were looking to get out of the class from week to week."
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"Michael was a first class educator & human being & his content was exactly and more than what I'd hoped for."
- Student, Social Documentary Network
"Michael is a great communicator; very positive and inspiring. I liked that he asked us to show our projects and gave us really insightful feedback right on the spot."
- Student, Social Documentary Network