About Me

Sadie Hine

I am a photographer and illustrator living in Humboldt County, California. My work has earned me ambassador roles for both Girls Who Click and Nature’s Best Photography, as well as honorable mentions and awards in various competitions. Most recently, I served as a judge for the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards and am working on a scientific illustration internship at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Education

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Cal Poly Humboldt - Graduating December 2026

I began at Cal Poly Humboldt as a Wildlife Biology student, but switched to Interdisciplinary Studies to explore the connection between visual arts and natural sciences. I have completed coursework in biology, taxonomy and botany while simultaneously taking communication and illustration courses. 

Skills

Art plays a crucial role in conservation. Imagery is a powerful tool and can effectively draw attention to the beauty, hardships and interconnectedness of the natural world and engage any audience, regardless of background or language. I specialize in creating visual imagery to tell these stories, utilizing scientific illustration and wildlife photography. 

    • Experience with photographing birds, mammals, herps, and macro subjects

    • Documentary-style photography using a portable field-studio setup

    • Storytelling through conservation photography

    • Photo editing & judging experience

    • Digital Media

      • Simplified, graphic depictions of biodiversity for stickers

      • Illustrations for scientific publications

    • Traditional Media

      • Science Illustration Internship with Cal Poly Humboldt, DoTS

      • Gallery participation

    • Social media content creation

    • Lectures and presentations for events

Want to learn more? View my Curriculum Vitae here.

Awards

  • BigPicture Finalist - 2025

    My image, titled “Exorcism,” was selected as a finalist in the Terrestrial Wildlife category. The image depicts a parasitic fungus growing out of a dead June beetle larva in the dunes of Humboldt County, California. It was displayed at the California Academy of Sciences and received international recognition.

  • Youth International Photographer of the Year - 2022 Mkapa African Wildlife Awards

    My image of three bare-faced go-away-birds from Tarangirie National Park was selected by Nature’s Best Photography and the African Wildlife Foundation. It was featured among many other impressive African wildlife photos from photographers around the world in an internationally traveling gallery, including a display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

  • Audubon Top 100 - 2022

    While looking through a flock of American avocets in their typical, gray winter plumage, one individual stood out against the crowd, rocking bright breeding colors. This wintery scene earned me a spot in Audubon’s annual Top 100 Photo Awards.

  • Poster Competition Winner - 2026

    My work was selected to represent the 2026 California Seaweed Festival. I completed this illustration during finals week while finishing a Phycology (seaweed) class. Creating this became a fun way to study California seaweeds and their ecological interactions.

    Click here to view the full design.

Contact

Send your message here, or to shinesadie@gmail.com