Dana grew up along a canal in New York that flowed into the Atlantic, spending her childhood on the water with her fisherman father—fishing, clamming and exploring. But as she grew, she watched her beloved ecosystem change, especially after Hurricane Sandy. What was once a vibrant, swimmable oasis became polluted and unrecognizable. This transformation galvanized her passion for conservation, leading her to document the changes through photography, participate in beach cleanups and help local wildlife.

Dana studied photography at Parsons School of Design, minoring in environmental science before earning her BFA. As a freelance photographer, she’s worked with nonprofits across Botswana, Yellowstone, Haiti and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, using visual storytelling to highlight people, wildlife and conservation efforts. She’s also spent months camping across the U.S., tracking and photographing wildlife, with proceeds from her print sales supporting conservation projects.

One of her most memorable encounters was in Alberta, spending hours with a black bear and her three cubs—two black and one rare white cub, a sight typically seen only in coastal British Columbia. Now living in her camper van, Dana travels North America, hiking with her dogs, photographing wildlife and advocating for coexistence between humans and nature.