NOVA WEST
  • About
  • Credits
  • Portfolio
    • Film
    • Photography
    • Art + Design
    • Field Drawings
  • Projects
    • Out in the Wild
    • Diving for Rays
    • Project Lemon Aid
  • Public Speaking
  • Contact
  • News

ABOUT

  With their infinitely curious spirit, Nova works across a wide variety of disciplines with strong proficiency. They are available for permanent, contract, long-term, and short-term work as a cinematographer, photographer, science communicator, educator, film and photography editor, director, producer, post production manager, artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. Within their visual expertise, they have ample experience in underwater, topside, aerial, macro, sync, digital, traditional, ceramic, ink, colored pencil, and watercolor mediums. They have practiced their crafts across office, remote, travel, backcountry, at-sea, and expedition settings, often in extreme or dynamic environments. A strong aspect of Nova's character avoids limitation in what they can dream, create, and achieve, which allows them to tell stories in the capacity and medium that calls them. This sense of wonder has led them to learning a vast base of well-rounded skill sets that fundamentally inform and refine each other, positioning them for anything but stagnancy and orienting them towards exponential growth and refinement in their beloved crafts.
  From office work to sailing across the sea, Nova recognizes that who you work with truly matters, and being a kind and compassionate human is just as important as the visuals they create. On every assignment, Nova strives to be a joyful and hardworking presence that leaves collaborators with a sense of accomplishment and comradery. You can read more about what it's like to work with Nova here.
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Nova posing with ROV Hercules while working as a Documentarian aboard the E/V Nautilus. Photo by Marley Parker

Skill Grid

Below is a non-exhaustive quick reference guide of Nova's skills, specialties, and applications.
As a jack of all trades, Nova learns new skills quickly; if you don't see something listed that you're looking for, please ask!
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PictureNova on assignment for Ocean Exploration Trust. Photo by Jennie Berglund


Certifications

FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot  |  2022, 2024
PADI Rescue Diver  |  2020
PADI Enriched Air Diver  |  2020

American Red Cross First Aid and CPR  |  2019
American Red Cross Certified First Responder  |  2016
Wolf Ridge Certified Wilderness First Aid  |  2016
Wolf Ridge Certified Wilderness Water Safety  |  2016
Project WET  |  2017
Project Wild  |  2016
Project Learning Tree  |  2015


Gear + Tech Proficiency

Owned

Panasonic Lumix GH5
Lumix G Vario 7-14
M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8
Canon 24-105mm

Metabones EF-MFT T Cine XL 0.64x Speed Booster
Nauticam Underwater Housing
GoPro 11 + Accessories
AC/DIT Kit
Scuba/Freedive Kit

Operated

RED Komodo
Canon 5D Mk iii + iv, C300
Sony A1, A7siii, FX3, FS7, & FX9
Ronin Gimbals
Rode Mic Kits
DJI Drones
EZ Rig
Dana Dolly

Software

​Adobe Suite
Microsoft Office
​Synology
​Shotput Pro
DaVinci Resolve
Windows PC and Mac OS

Grants + Awards

Conservation Nation Firefly Grant | 2024
iLCP Emerging League Member | 2024
Ocean Culture Life Storyteller Grant | 2024
National Geographic Storytelling Explorer Grant | 2023
Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellow | 2023
San Diego Environmental Film Festival People’s Choice Award | 2022
Primetime Emmy Awards, Penguin Town | 2021-2022
Conservation Nation Emerging Conservationist Grant | 2021
Primetime Emmy Awards, Secrets of the Whales | 2020-2021
You can learn more about Nova's grant projects here!
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Nova West, Nicole Morris, and Angel Morris presenting Diving for Rays at the first annual San Diego Environmental Film Festival

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Nova speaking at the 2023 Jackson Wild Summit. Photo by Angel Morris

Speaking Engagements

National Geographic Slingshot Challenge Mentor | 2025
   Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Gen-Sea: Inclusivity Under the Waves Panelist | 2024
   Wildscreen Festival, Bristol
Photo Camp Team Lead | 2024
   National Geographic Photo Camp, Indiana
Photographic Storytelling Workshop Presenter | 2024
   2892 Miles to Go, National Geographic
Ship-to-Shore Interaction Educator | 2021 - 2024
   Ocean Exploration Trust aboard the E/V Nautilus
Out in the Wild Panelist | 2023
   Jackson Wild Summit
Presenter and Film Premiere | 2022
   Texas A&M University, Galveston
Explore Your Ocean Panelist | 2022
   Explore Your Universe, UCLA
Youth Advisory Council Speaker | 2022
   Conservation Nation
You can learn more about Nova's speaking engagements here!
Across their career, Nova has been invited to speak on several podcasts covering their story, work, adventures, projects, and personal anecdotes.
Click the tiles below to listen to the episodes released to date, and check out the 'News' tab to read more about their recent engagements.
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Take the Last Bite is a podcast directly countering the Midwest Nice mentality, highlighting advocacy and activism by queer/trans communities in the Midwest.
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Earth to Humans is a podcast about the interconnected nature of our planet’s overlapping crises, and the amazing humans who are fighting for a better future for all of Earth’s inhabitants.
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LGBT Outdoors is a podcast serving as a tool to connect the LGBTQ+ community to the outdoors and to each other while creating a more diverse and inclusive outdoor space.
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4Earth Podcast interviews guests from all over the world who share a passion for the environment, are raising environmental awareness, and are taking action to protect the environment.
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Impact Storytelling is a podcast featuring accomplished professionals in the realms of conservation, filmmaking, photography, and arts who share diverse paths to creating a positive impact on our planet.
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The Closing the Gap podcast highlights women and nonbinary professionals who are working in STEM & Trades fields to provide visibility for young people looking to enter the field.

Education

University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN
      Bachelor of Applied Science, concentration in music performance
      Major: Environmental and Outdoor Education
      Minor: General Studio Art

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Nova on a 9 day backpacking trip in the Badlands of South Dakota to finish their degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education

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Nova finishing a mural for Radical Empathy Now during the protests of 2020 in Washington, DC. Photo by Ty Kitchen

Volunteering

Camp Brave Trails  |  2023 - 2024
   Camp Photographer
Jackson Wild LGBTQ+ Initiative  |  2022 - 2024
   Board Member
Radical Empathy  |  2020
   Mural Artist
Potomac Riverkeeper Network  |  2020
​   Volunteer Scientific Scuba Diver: 50 Million Mussels Project
National Geographic Diversity and Inclusion Board  |  2018 - 2019
​   PRIDE Co-Chair Representative

National Geographic PRIDE Founders Board  |  2018 - 2019
​   Board Co-Chair

Partners in Education  |  2017
   Classroom Educator

Queer and Allied Students Union Board   |  2016
   Publicity Coordinator
   800 hours of service
Speakers Bureau  |  
2016
   Panelist
   50 hours of service

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  • About
  • Credits
  • Portfolio
    • Film
    • Photography
    • Art + Design
    • Field Drawings
  • Projects
    • Out in the Wild
    • Diving for Rays
    • Project Lemon Aid
  • Public Speaking
  • Contact
  • News