Johnson’s photography of the pond and its bountiful wildlife—think butterflies, hummingbirds, and frogs—are beautifully captured on the magazine’s cover and its glossy pages, as well as online.

Read his story and view the photos .

As a result of the project, Johnson wrote, “we went from seeing an occasional wandering toad to now having a fully functioning ecosystem.”

“For me, this is a story of hope,” he said. “Tackling the extinction crisis can seem overwhelming, but everyday folks can transform their backyards into an oasis for wildlife.”

The professor and photographer, whose colorful images of the seasonal ponds—and the aquatic life that inhabit them—have earned him 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year honors and graced the cover of Nature Conservancy Magazine, has been named an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).Ěý

was one of 16 accomplished photographers and filmmakers selected to join the iLCP’s associate fellow program for 2025, the nonprofit recently announced in a release.Ěý“Each of them brings exceptional skill in visual storytelling, a deep engagement with conservation initiatives and a strong dedication to advancing environmental awareness through their work,” the .Ěý

Established in 2005, iLCP supports environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography and filmmaking. Its fellows are a group of professional wildlife, nature, and cultural visual storytellers who, “in addition to displaying remarkable photographic and filmmaking skills, have each demonstrated a deep commitment to conservation efforts around the globe,” according to its . These 120+ fellows, based in 26 countries and working in 190 countries, “shine a light on issues ranging from endangered flora and fauna to climate change to ocean health.”

For Johnson, conservation photography allows him to share the same sense of wonder he feels when encountering other creatures in the natural world. “Millions of animal and plant species coexist on Earth, but very few of these species enter our consciousness; that invisibility is a big problem when it comes to conservation,” he said. “Even in the midst of an extinction crisis, most of our news and political discourse is very human-centered. Using visual communication to advocate for the natural world is a way to challenge that narrative and look for ways to share the planet with the ‘more-than-human’ world.”

The EMU professor had been an affiliate for iLCP for a number of years where he served as a technical consultant and also connected EMU students to its photographers and staff. As a fellow, he will attend the organization’s signature event, , in mid-November, which brings together conservation photographers, filmmakers, scientists, advocates, and communicators from around the globe as they share powerful stories and solutions for a sustainable future.

“It’s definitely affirming to be a part of a fellowship of passionate and committed peers in the conservation photography world,” Johnson said.

Michael Horst, dean of Behavioral, Health and Natural Sciences at EMU, said Johnson’s work brings viewers face to face with the miraculous elements of the natural world that might otherwise be overlooked, creating an emotional connection that heightens the importance of protecting and conserving it.

“At EMU, we know the importance of deeply cultivating sustainable practices,” Horst said. “For those who need encouragement, Steve’s work can make a big difference.”

About the professor

Johnson came to EMU in 2005 and started one of the few full-semester conservation photography courses offered to undergraduates in the U.S.

He holds an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and serves on the advisory board of the Virginia Wildlife Committee and Girls Who Click. At EMU’s VACA department, he teaches digital media classes and a specialized course on conservation photography. When he’s not in his office, he can often be found crouched next to a vernal pool or kayaking the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

His images of the natural world have appeared in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, National Wildlife Magazine, Nature Conservancy Magazine, Ranger Rick, Virginia Wildlife, bioGraphic, Orion, National Science Teaching Association Press books, and numerous conservation publications and journals. His long-term project exploring vernal pools was highlighted by the Southern Environmental Law Center in “The wonder of wetlands and 5 Southerners working to protect them” ().

Johnson said one of his favorite things about teaching is that EMU and VACA allow for so much innovative, interdisciplinary practice. For example, in his conservation photography class, he teaches a mix of photography, digital media, and science students. 

“In some places, the sciences and arts barely mix,” he said. “Here, I can talk to science students about making compelling images and teach visual arts students about vernal pools.”

Johnson will teach the class in conservation photography again during the fall 2026 semester.

View more of his photography at .

5 — Stroll through the East Garden

Located just across the pond south of the Suter Science Center’s greenhouse, a short walk across a wooden bridge and through some lush greenery reveals a plentiful patch of produce. The fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown on the campus gardens by the student-run Sustainable Food Initiative are used to supply the EMU Free Food Room, which supports members of the campus community experiencing food insecurity. 

Bonus tip: For an air-conditioned and educational detour, duck into the nearby D. Ralph Hostetter Natural History Museum and browse the displays of fossils, insects, birds, and wildlife inside the science center’s main entrance. 

4 — Practice your pickleball

Bring your paddle and your A-game out to the six new pickleball courts on Park Road, which were installed at the end of last year. The enhanced outdoor courts space, which also includes four new tennis courts, is the result of a partnership between EMU, Eastern Mennonite School, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, and other organizations and private donors. “A lot of people in the Harrisonburg community come out to play on the EMU pickleball courts—people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels,” said Levi Clymer ’25, former co-president of the EMU Pickleball Club. “That’s the beautiful thing about pickleball.”

Bonus tip: After the game, stretch out those calf muscles with a lap around the neighboring EMU track, which was dedicated in October. During the summer, track lanes 5-8 are open to the public from 6-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. daily, except for special events. Or take a stroll along the , a paved shared-use path that stretches from EMU, passes by picturesque fields and streams, and will eventually connect to Downtown Harrisonburg.

3 — Walk through the Park Woods

Take advantage of the shaded paths that wind their way through Park Woods, a 13-acre oak-hickory forest that adorns the northeast corner of campus between Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community and Eastern Mennonite School. Walk along the recently completed Weaver Loop perimeter path and breathe in the scents of the native trees and understory. The paths are regularly used by walkers of all ages, from children at the K-12 school to retirees at the senior living community.

Bonus tip: See if you can find the rustic cabin located in the clearing at the heart of the woods. Built as a gift by the classes of 1946 and 1950, the cabin was the central hub of socialization and recreation on EMU’s campus for more than 40 years…Read more about it here.

2 — Toss some discs

Play a round of disc golf on EMU’s nine-hole, par-27 course. The stomping grounds of 2025 college disc golf national champion Jesse Longenecker, the course is dedicated in honor of his late brother, Nathan. Try to keep your cool while sinking your putt at some of the course’s tougher holes—we think the basket perched on top of the tree stump is awfully tricky!

Bonus tip: After finishing the eighth hole, wander over to the , a spiral-looking maze just up the hill above the Seminary Building. The feature offers those at EMU a unique way to connect with God.

1 — Gaze out from the EMU Hill

Take in the majestic vista of Massanutten Mountain and the city of Harrisonburg from the summit of the EMU Hill. If the trek doesn’t take your breath away, the view surely will (note: parking is also available at the top of the hill by the Astral Hall recording studio). No matter how long you’ve been at EMU, it’s one sight that never seems to get old. 

Bonus tip: Want a similar view without the hike? Head to the Campus Center balcony—a favorite spot for Trina Trotter Nussbaum ’00, MA ’17, director of EMU’s Center for Interfaith Engagement. She remembers falling in love with EMU the first time she looked out from that very spot. “All it took was one look at those mountains, and they seemed to tell me, ‘You belong here,’” she said. And, according to Macson McGuigan ’17, campus photographer and resident lover of lightning bugs, the overlook offers prime firefly viewing after sunset.

What are your favorite places on campus to capture its breathtaking beauty? Leave a comment below!