Mountain Talk: Wild Encounters - Capturing Nature’s Untamed Beauty
Wednesday, May 6 | 12:15 pm
About the Event
Wild Encounters: Capturing Nature's Untamed Beauty
Embark on a gripping adventure with top wildlife photographer and author Michael Patrick O’Neill ’88. He'll showcase heart-stopping images of wildlife in untamed habitats and share the skill, patience, and reverence behind every stunning shot. He blends adventure, art, humor, and masterful storytelling and will leave you inspired to protect our vanishing wild places.
Cost: Free to attend
Staff Contact: J. Bryce Neff, Associate Director, Professional & Intellectual Engagement
Speaker Bio
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Michael Patrick O'Neill is an award-winning photographer, author, and FAA-certified (Part 107) drone pilot specializing in marine wildlife and environmental
issues. Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, he has spent more than 30 years traveling the world to document aquatic animals, habitats, and humanity’s impact on them.
He has written and photographed nine nonfiction marine life books crafted to inspire schoolchildren to read, write, explore science, and embrace conservation. The titles have earned outstanding reviews from School Library Journal and are widely distributed in educational systems across the U.S. To learn more, visit Batfish Books.
When he’s not behind the camera or writing, O'Neill is on the lecture circuit, sharing his passion for the natural world — especially the oceans and their inhabitants. He has presented to over 500,000 students in more than 500 schools across the United States in the past 20 years.
With more than 30 years in the field, he has won top honors in the most prestigious competitions, such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year, World Press Photo, and Pictures of the Year (POYi). His images have been published in National Geographic Magazine, BBC Wildlife, Discovery, The New York Times, and countless other publications.
Event Details
When: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 12:15-1 p.m. Eastern
Online via Zoom
RSVP by: Tuesday, May 5
DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
306 S. New Street, Suite 500
Bethlehem, PA 18015-1652
(866) 758-ALUM
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