About Photographer

Noppadol PaothongNoppadol Paothong has been working as a staff photographer of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) since 2006.

His main role is to contribute to the MDC’s monthly magazine, Missouri Conservationist, and many other MDC’s publications.

His photographic skills have been recognized by over seventy regional, national and international awards, including Picture of the Year International (POYi), National Wildlife photo contest, finalist in BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, winner of the Associated Collegiate Press photo contest, “Mark of Excellence” award from the Society of Professional Journalists, and “Missouri Photojournalist of the Year.”

As a conservation photographer, he has been mainly focusing on documenting endangered and threatened species.

For the past ten years, he has been extensively documenting North American grassland grouses, including Attwater’s Prairie Chickens, Greater and Lesser Prairie Chickens, Sharp-tailed Grouses (Plains & Columbian), Greater Sage Grouses, and Gunnison Sage Grouse.

Noppadol Paothong