I was entirely self-propelled in my career development - no "connections" per se.  I maximized my personal experiences and skill set (aka surviving in the Arctic) and shot, shot, shot.  For years, I compiled a body of work while sometimes living out of my car in order to afford gear (I still dream of lenses...).  After pitching my work all over the place, I was published first in local Yukon Territory magazines, then internationally, and, after about 8 years of repeatedly pitching to NG, I was sent out on my first NG assignment and started a mentorship with Flip Nicklin.  Along with photographer Joel Sartore and editor Kathy Moran, Flip granted me the opportunity to photograph underwater situations on one of their stories (see "Pacific Suite," February 2003). A few months later, I got "the call": the editorial team asked me to shoot an underwater story for them on Atlantic Salmon (see July 2003). I have since completed nine more stories and have been involved in a number of other projects.

 

Start with shooting stories versus pretty pictures (aka be a photojournalist versus a photographer).  Which specifically "noble purpose" inspires you?  Is there an animal in your community facing a threat?  Do your special skills navigate you toward a climate or a geographic location that needs exposure?  Focus on finding yourself a cause, shoot the hell out of it, find a unique angle, and pitch the story wherever you can.  Local papers, magazines, online editions, blogs, international, whatever it takes.  My work was featured in thousands of magazines in the 12 years before I cracked NG - nothing was too small or too local. 

 

Good luck and enjoy the process as much as you can.  The key is getting your work out there: build yourself a website, utilize social media, and pitch pitch pitch!