Photographer and videographer specializing in creating impactful editorial, Conservation and scientific storytelling visuals for the research, academic, non-profit and film sectors.
As a trained marine biologist and social scientist, I provide a perspective that allows me to successfully translate and showcase your organization’s work into meaningful visual tools for a range of applications. An accomplished aquanaut, with over 25 years of experience as a diver, I provide unparalleled diving expertise and know-how for the most challenging projects.
I offer visual project consultation, planning and post-processing services for both above and below the waves as well as an assortment of photography, underwater, aerial, and dive equipment for hire.
My photographs have appeared in peer-reviewed scientific literature, government and ORGANIZATIONAL reports and, media outlets including Canadian Geographic, The Globe And Mail, Hakai Magazine, The Conversation, Eco Magazine, DIVER, Oceanographic Magazine and CBC News.
my film work has been featured on CBC Television, CBC Gem and the History Channel.
LATEST WORK
OPEN SEASON DOCUMENTARY
OPEN SEASON (Coming June 2024) | Runtime: 45mins
Nestled in the Windward islands lies the small island of Grenada, home to one of the most endangered species on the planet, the hawksbill sea turtle.
Open Season is a Grenadian documentary film that tells the story of a unique and dedicated team of researchers and fishermen working to understand and protect Grenada’s last remaining sea turtles in the face of one of the world’s longest open hunting seasons for sea turtles.
Open Season was filmed exclusively in Grenada in collaboration with Ocean Spirits, the fishermen of Sauteurs and wildlife veterinarian Dr. Kenrith Carter. Open Season is narrated by Grenadian, Roxanna John and, produced and directed by Nicolas Winkler.
Shark Tales: Canada’s great whites
Written by Karen Pinchin | Photographs by Nicolas Winkler
Canadian Geographic May/June 2024
“That there are dozens — possibly hundreds — of white sharks swimming in Nova Scotia’s waters and that it is possible to lure them closely enough to see one in person still seems inconceivable to many living here.”
Death on the Ocean Floor: A great white shark mystery
Words and Photographs by Nicolas Winkler
Canadian Geographic Online February 2024
“Since 1999, only two or three great white shark deaths have been reported to MARS. Yet, the shark the divers found at the bottom of the bay outside of Halifax would mark the sixth event in a year, but the first white shark found underwater as opposed to found ashore.”
PROJECTS
Dr. Kristina Boerder, CERI Lead, collects eelgrass seeds along Nova Scotia’s coastline for restoration trials.
HIDDEN IN THE GRASS: A YEAR IN ATLANTIC CANADA'S EELGRASS ECOSYSTEMS
Eelgrass are climate heroes, able to remove carbon 35x faster than rainforests by sequestering oceanic or blue carbon deep into the sediment via extensive root systems. They also form expansive meadows that protect coastlines and provide critical habitats for a wide diversity of species such as eel and lobster, both important for Indigenous communities and commercial fisheries. Climate change is also negatively impacting eelgrass, up to 1/3 of which may be in decline in the Atlantic region. With Canada warming twice as fast as the world average, it is urgently important that both the public and policymakers gain awareness of the vast ecological and societal benefits eelgrass provide, and take action to support their conservation. As a 2023 Trebek Initiative grantee, I will be working in tandem with the Community Eelgrass Restoration Initiative (CERI) and other regional stakeholders to tell the story of eelgrass meadows over the course of four seasons on Canada’s Atlantic Coast, and support CERI as they assess eelgrass' blue carbon potential and carry out restoration studies.
Coastal Access - Nova Scotia
The Coastal Access Project is a research-based initiative that will explore how changes to coastal access affects the way people access, live by, and explore the coast. The objective of this project is to foster greater public understanding of coastal access in Nova Scotia, and explore solutions to the challenges that are emerging. The Coastal access project is supported with a grant from the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Enhance your mission and policy objectives through impactful imagery by effectively communicating your stories to collaborators, project partners and the public.
Lost lobster trap identification bands collected along Nova Scotia’s shores