How photographer Madi McKay uses the Z6III to document California’s coastal ecosystems.

Madison McKay photo of an Opalescent Nudibranch
Nudibranchs, or sea slugs, are one of the main reasons I became interested in tide pooling. There are over 3000 different species—most of which have extravagant colors and patterns. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/200sec., f/5, ISO 1000.

Madi McKay is a marine biologist and photographer based near Monterey, California. Known online as a “nudibranch nerd”, Madi’s favorite subjects are the colorful nudibranch (pronounced “nood-ee-brank” and otherwise known as sea slugs) that populate tide pools in California and beyond. We caught up with Madi recently to hear more about her background, her work, and what motivates her to get outside into nature, camera in hand. 

For Madi, her interest in photography has always gone hand in hand with her passion for wildlife.

Madison McKay photo of a Heron Hunting fish
This great blue heron probably caught a fish every 5 minutes while I was observing it. They are so still that they can go undetected by their prey even when they are physically in the water. I try act like them while I am taking photos: slow, calm, and observant. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S + Z Teleconverter TC 2.0 at 290mm focal length, 1/640sec., f/6.3, ISO 400.

“I wasn’t really interested in either photography or marine science until I went to college. I decided to go into marine science in my second year of college and ended up volunteering in my university’s marine mammal ecology lab. I studied harbor seal hunting behavior, and we used a camera to photograph seals and identify them based on their patterns. I started borrowing the camera to take more creative photos of the seals, and other animals in the same ecosystem, like great blue herons and beavers.” 

After she started getting more interested in photography, Madi graduated to a Nikon D90, “gifted by my parents” but these days, she shoots with the mirrorless Nikon Z6III, which she describes as “a game-changer—especially now that I’m using photography and videography more and more for my science communication.”

Madison McKay photo of an Egret in a tide pool with a fish in its mouth
Great egrets look so awkward walking around the tide pools with their long, skinny legs. But this is part of what makes them such successful hunters! With enough patience and a long lens I was able to catch this one mid-hunt with a fish in its mouth. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/5000sec., f/5.6, ISO 250.

“The Z6III has been very easy to get comfortable with, and I’m excited about the powerful video features. Shooting full HD slow motion video at 240p is perfect for wildlife, and also footage of people interacting with nature. The [Vibration Reduction] image stabilization is great when I want to shoot quickly without a tripod, and the compact, lightweight design makes it easy for me to bring the camera into the field.”

“Something I’m still learning is patience. You really can’t predict what you will see while out in nature, and sometimes you just have to sit, watch and wait. There is also a balance between being prepared to get a photo and being present in the environment. For example, I often see gulls eating octopuses in the tide pools and for me, that’s a dream shot to get. But it happens so fast that every time, I have to decide between whipping out my camera or just watching. I still haven’t captured the moment, but I know someday I will!”

Madison McKay photo of an Otter on a rock with water in the background
Even though we don’t often see them there, sea otters are a part of the intertidal ecosystem. I got to catch this one taking a nap in some sea grass. I love how it’s peeking out from behind a big mussel-covered rock. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S + Z Teleconverter TC 2.0 at 400mm focal length, 1/200sec., f/8, ISO 1000.

As her YouTube channel @nudibranchnerd suggests, Madi’s favorite subjects are nudibranch—otherwise known as sea slugs, “because they’re beautiful and they barely move!”

“There are over 3000 different species, and they’re all so brightly colored with amazing patterns and shapes and sizes. I find them in tide pools quite often, and they’re great to photograph. I’m known as a “nudibranch nerd” and my followers love sea slugs just as much as me. My favorite behavior to observe is when they sit upside down on the surface of the water, using surface tension to cruise around.”

Madison McKay photo of a Spanish Shawl
It’s pretty rare to find Spanish Shawl nudibranchs in tide pools in Monterey, but you can sometimes find them living under docks. Because of their vivid, bright colors and the dark dock ecosystem the sea slugs really popped in this photo. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S + Z Teleconverter TC 2.0 at 220mm, 1/100sec., f/9, ISO 1000.

When it comes to photography locations, Madi still returns to the tide pools of Monterey—conveniently located right in her back yard:

“I always find something new, whether it’s a species I’ve never seen before or a new animal behavior.”

Madison McKay photo of a heron's head poking out from the rocks of a tide pool
Great blue herons are my absolute favorite bird to observe in the tide pools. They are so elegant and skillful in their hunting. They spend a lot of time crouched down below the rocks looking for fish, but I caught this one peeking up on its way to the next tide pool. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S + Z Teleconverter TC 2.0 at 400mm focal length, 1/800sec., f/5.6, ISO 320.

“But now that I have the Z6III I’d love to go to Alaska and photograph bears and salmon during the salmon runs. There are amazing tide pools up there too, with species I’ve never seen before. Eventually I’d like to do a big road trip from Alaska to Southern California, stopping at a bunch of tide pools on the way.”

Madi’s current camera kit consists of the Z6III with a NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S and Z  TELECONVERTER TC-2.0x, but her dream kit also includes the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S and NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S.

As well as additional lenses, Madi hopes to expand her skillset too, and get into filmmaking.

Madison McKay vertical photo of an otter on shore looking at the camera
If we didn’t have kelp we wouldn’t have sea otters! Sea otters rely on food sources that live in kelp forests—like abalone and urchins and crabs. I like this photo because it looks like a sea otter on a feather boa kelp throne. Z6III with NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S + Z Teleconverter 2.0 at 140mm focal length, 1/500sec., f/8, ISO 500.

“I recently attended an amazing environmental filmmaking workshop put on by Jackson Wild which has inspired me to take my cinematography and filmmaking to the next level. So eventually I would love a dedicated cinematography camera like the Nikon ZR. 

I want to make longer-form films that have a real, measurable impact. I have a few ideas that will hopefully inspire people to become more informed consumers and better stewards of their local environments.”

Madison McKay

Madison McKay graduated from Western Washington University in 2019 with a degree in biology. Currently based in California, Madi hopes that her work will promote stewardship and curiosity, educate the public about marine conservation, and support aspiring marine scientists.

You can see more of Madi’s work on Instagram and on YouTube.