About
About speck.
speck. is a print magazine for field herpers and wildlife photographers. Each issue focuses on field ethics, conservation spotlights, and trip reports from herpetologists and enthusiasts alike. We look to celebrate the animals and the people who go looking for them, and push the hobby toward doing it the right way.
Why it exists
Field herping is growing fast, and most of what gets published about reptiles and amphibians is still about keeping them in tanks. The people out flipping cover boards, cruising roads at night, and spending hours waiting for the right light have very little that speaks to them. There are also very few places that hold the community to a standard.
I wanted a magazine that does both. One that gives amateur and professional photographers a space to show their work and tell their stories, and one that is honest about how we can improve as a community.
Look. Shoot. Conserve.
Who is behind it
I’m Isaac Wilson. I spent six years as a herpetology keeper and educator at the Saint Louis Zoo, and I now work as a conservation educator in Illinois. I hold a B.S. in Biology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and I’m finishing an M.S. in Conservation Biology through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Get involved
Issue 01 is in the works, and the cover is open to readers. If you have a trip worth writing about or a photo worth printing, send it to submissions@speckmagazine.com. You can also join the list to hear when the first issue drops, or follow along on Instagram at @speck.magazine.