Joe Riis is currently the youngest wildlife photojournalist for National Geographic. The Pierre native has worked for the magazine for five years.
When he is not on an assignment he stays at a cabin he built on his parent’s family farm in South Central South Dakota. Riss graduated from the University of Wyoming where he studied wildlife biology and environment natural sciences. He began working for National Geographic upon graduating.
“So I was working primarily in Western Wyoming photographing the pronghorn migration out of Grand Teton National park, and I did that for about two years. That led to more work with National Geographic that brought me to Thailand, and to Africa, and parts of Asia, and then now I’ve started to work down in South America as well,” says Riis.
Riss says working for National Geographic as a photojournalists compliments his science background and provides a way to convey what he sees in his research. Riss is on a hiatus and will speak Thursday evening at Black Hills State University.