michaela skovranova

OM SYSTEM GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

⚲ Naarm (Melbourne, VIC), Australia

Michaela Skovranova is a European-Australian artist working in the field of photography and film.

 

Michaela's work has focused on capturing intimate environmental and human stories - from documenting coral reefs and Great Barrier Reef restoration for National Geographic, The Great Australian Bight for Greenpeace and the aftermath of Australian Bushfires for TIME Magazine. Her short films pick up the natural, ambient-lit storytelling where the images leave off with her latest short film, “End of the World”, which speaks to the devastating impacts of climate change in Antarctica, premiering at TEDx Sydney 2020.

 

Her projects involve working as a freelance photographer, filmmaker, speaker, and talent, and she has been featured for her work by publications such as National Geographic, The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The Guardian, and more. Michaela is a National Geographic expert and runs regular photography and video workshops across Australia and overseas.

 

CONNECT WITH MICHAELA

Website:  mishku.com

Instagram:  @mishkusk

Facebook:  @mishkusk

Vimeo:  @mishku

TikTok:  @mishkusk

LISA MICHELE BURNS

OM SYSTEM GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

⚲ Kabi Kabi (Sunshine Coast, QLD), Australia

Lisa is an Australian travel and landscape photographer and editor of The Wandering Lens.

 

Having worked throughout various photographic genres over the past 17 years, both above and below the water level, her focus keeps returning to the patterns and tones within landscapes. Glaciers, deserts and regions of climatic significance are environments she’s passionate about documenting, naming Greenland, Iceland, Namibia and Chile as countries she’d happily photograph again and again.

 

Getting her start in photography whilst working as a photojournalist for Lonely Planet, Lisa now publishes The Wandering Lens, a travel guide for photographers listing photogenic destinations alongside creative tips. Preferring to shoot extreme climates and natural wonders, Lisa’s travels have seen her photograph Lapland, Iceland and Norway along with the contrasting tropical Cook Islands and Great Barrier Reef.

 

CONNECT WITH LISA

Website:  thewanderinglens.com

Instagram:  @the_wanderinglens

Facebook:  @thewanderinglens

TikTok:  @thewanderinglens

MATT HORSPOOL

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Darkinjung (Gosford, NSW), Australia

As a Korean adoptee growing up in rural NSW, Matt has always been fascinated with the mountains and remote destinations featured in his parents’ National Geographic magazines.

 

Following university, he set off on multiple trekking expeditions across South America. Armed with a small point-and-shoot camera, Matt loved exploring and photographing the natural world. Shortly after returning home, he then set off on a 3.5-year journey around the world, working across various vocations, all the while taking more and more photos.

 

In 2017, Matt embarked on our VISION Project across Central Asia and has worked closely with OM SYSTEM as an official ambassador since then. What he loves most about photography is the incredible locations you document and the amazing people you meet. Sharing in those ‘Wow’ moments amplifies the experience in a way no other vocation can compare

 

CONNECT WITH MATT

Website:  etchdphotography.com

Instagram:  @etchd

YouTube:  @etchd_

Facebook:  @etchdphotography

TikTok:  @etchd_

SCOTT PORTELLI

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Kepa Kurl (Esperance, WA), Australia

Scott Portelli is an international award-winning wildlife, nature, aerial and underwater photographer. Scott has spent thousands of hours in remote locations across the globe, filming and photographing nature, wildlife, and the underwater environment.

 

An accredited licensed RPAS/UAV/UOeC pilot, Scott has worked on aerial projects for some of Australia’s most sort out tourism destinations as well as in Antarctica, Arctic, Azores, Macquarie Island, Falkland Islands, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and South Pacific. Working in extreme conditions, Scott’s practices take a high-quality, low-impact approach to filming wildlife in their natural environment in a non-invasive way to capture natural behaviour.

 

Scott runs wildlife and photography workshops, tours and lectures to show enthusiasts and experts the best way to get the most out of their photography. On his tours, he specialises in underwater and wildlife photography, bringing the best tips and techniques for photographing in challenging locations.

 

CONNECT WITH SCOTT

Website:  scottportelli.com

Instagram:  @scott.portelli

Facebook:  @scott.portelli

Vimeo:  @scottportelli

YouTube:  @scottportelli

BRIDGETTE GOWER

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Gimuy (Cairns, QLD), Australia

Bridgette grew up on a farm near a small rural town in NSW. Being surrounded by nature, she developed a great appreciation of the natural world from a very young age.

 

Over the years, her love of wildlife, conservation and photography grew. She travelled around the world to experience and learn about the wildlife and habitats of many countries.

 

This spirit of discovery and adventure took her to see such magical places as Antarctica, where she was a crew member on the Sea Shepherd vessel MV Steve Irwin, to defend whales against the annual Japanese Whale Hunt. Her photos are still featured on the Sea Shepherd website.

 

In recent years, Bridgette has dedicated every spare minute to finding, photographing and identifying some of the world's smallest animals. She is lucky to live near the Cairns Botanic Gardens, where she spent countless hours searching for the many hidden treasures.

 

CONNECT WITH BRIDGETTE

Website:  aussiemacrophotos.com

Instagram:  @bridgettegower

Facebook:  @aussiemacrophotos

YouTube:  @aussiemacrophotos

MICHAEL HURREN

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Taungurung (Yea, VIC), Australia

Michael Hurren is a Melbourne-based Cinematographer/ Photographer and the founder of Filmic Productions, with over ten years of experience in the film industry and a background ranging from stills photography to art department.

 

Michael now runs a successful production company, focusing on commercial, corporate and editorial film and stills work. Michael’s passion for the outdoors has seen him travel much of Australia’s extreme terrain, from capturing fly-fishing in the icy high country to off-road motorsports in the rugged red centre, creating content for magazine publications, broadcast television and social media. There aren’t many corners of the country that remain unexplored, and overseas adventures are also fair game.

 

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL

Website:  filmicproductions.com.au

Instagram:  @michaelhurren_1

Facebook:  @filmicproductions.com.au

Vimeo:  @filmicproductions

BRENDAN jAMES

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Gimuy (Cairns, QLD), Australia

Brendan James is a macro photographer and founder of Cygnustech diffusers for macro photography, bringing the hidden world into stunning focus. Working with Olympus / OM SYSTEM cameras, he relies on their compact precision and exceptional close-focus capabilities to reveal details that often go unnoticed. 

 

His images highlight the textures, patterns, and delicate structures found in nature. From fungi and insects to the subtle geometry of everyday organic forms. Guided by curiosity and technical refinement, Brendan pairs thoughtful composition with the mobility and stability of the OM SYSTEM platform. The result is immersive, intimate imagery that celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary. 

 

His work encourages viewers to pause, observe, and appreciate the small wonders that shape our natural world.

 

"I have been an artist since a young child, So my transition into photography in 2017 was quite rapid, as I already had an eye for composition and colour having come from a painting, street art and digital design background. The infinite colours, patterns, shapes and textures of these tiny unique creatures was what really drew me into the world of Macrophotography and Entomology."

 

CONNECT WITH BRENDAN

Website:  cygnustechdiffuser.com

Instagram:  @cygnustech

Facebook:  @cygnustechdiffuser

ELLIE CARTWRIGHT

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Wakka Wakka (Kilkivan, QLD), Australia

In 2017, after a decade working on major British TV hits like The Apprentice and 24 Hours in A&E, Ellie took her storytelling skills into the endurance sports circuit and the fast-growing world of short-form content. Social media was on the rise, and brands were struggling to bring real storytelling into their films. Ellie developed a way to market their products ‘through the back door’ — telling authentic stories that resonate, rather than sell.

 

After years of working with global clients as a freelancer, Ellie founded Wanderlust Action Films. Today, they partner with brands that understand the power of subtle, authentic storytelling.

 

Since relocating to rural Australia, Ellie launched her own independent documentary arm, dedicated to developing original, story-led films. Their focus is on uncovering powerful, underrepresented stories — particularly from regional Australia, where voices are often overlooked but deeply impactful.

 

As a self-shooting director and adventure-film specialist, Ellie combines technical filmmaking skills with a powerful narrative sense. Her work seeks to highlight the transformative power of sport, exploration, and the outdoors — ultimately striving to produce cinematic documentaries that inspire and move audiences.

 

CONNECT WITH ELLIE

Website:  wanderlustaf.com

Instagram:  @ellieactionfilms

Instagram:  @wanderlustactionfilms

Facebook:  @wanderlust-action-films

YouTube:  @elliecartwright_filmmaker

BENNY CHIA

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR

⚲ Tāhuna (Queenstown), New Zealand

Benny Chia is a New Zealand based fungi photographer whose work uncovers the hidden beauty of the forest floor. Benny captures the delicate forms, colours, and textures of Aotearoa’s mushrooms, turning tiny moments in nature into striking visual stories.

 

What began as a simple curiosity about the forest floor has grown into a deep passion for the hidden stories that fungi tell about resilience and regeneration. Over the years, Benny’s distinctive style and meticulous attention to detail have earned him recognition in the photographic community, including several awards celebrating his contribution to nature and macro photography. These acknowledgements highlight both his technical skill and his ability to reveal beauty in subjects often missed by the casual eye.

 

Whether hiking through misty native bush, crouched in the mud during a South Island downpour, or waiting for the perfect breath of wind to still a tiny fruiting body, Benny approaches his craft with patience, curiosity, and a genuine love for the living world. His growing body of work positions him as a distinctive voice in nature and macro photography, celebrating the quiet, intricate wonders of the natural world.

 

His images blend scientific curiosity with artistic detail, inviting viewers to slow down, look closer, and appreciate the magic of the mycelial world.

 

CONNECT WITH BENNY

Instagram:  @fungi_photographer

Facebook:  @benckc