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HOW IT BEGAN...
My interest in photography began in 2022, With taking pictures of the moon. Armed with a 3,000 mm lens, I spent many nights capturing the moon's phases and its rugged surface.
on a whim, I decided to visit the Fort Worth Zoo—a place I hadn’t been in years. I was curious to see if I could translate the same focus and patience I had with moon photography into photographing animals.
Walking through the grounds That day, I turned into a tucked away corner of the zoo and froze.
I unwittingly discovered the mandrill habitat and there before me was the striking male, JJ. His presence was bold and commanding, and his beautiful colors seemed to glow in the late afternoon light.
I spent hours photographing him and the other animals that day, drawn in by something I could not quite explain.
Weeks passed, and I returned often. JJ began to recognize me, and sometimes he would greet me with the unmistakable mandrill grin. What started as curiosity quickly became something deeper: a desire to understand these animals, their behavior, and their place in the world.
One day I received an email from the editor of Fort Worth Weekly about an upcoming animal issue. Half-joking, I replied, “Just so you know, I’m completely obsessed with the mandrill at the Fort Worth Zoo.”
“Good,” he wrote back. “You’re writing the cover story.”
(You can read the story here).
that spontaneous visit and one story has since grown into a body of work—published stories, features and photography that center on animals, their beauty, and their irreplaceable role in the wild.
As both a staff writer and a freelance journalist, I’ve reported on crime, city government, education, national politics, and more, in major markets. For me, Writing about animals is among the most meaningful work I’ve done.
All of it happened because of one unforgettable mandrill.
JJ is the animal that sparked my curiosity, led me to want to learn more, and ultimately shaped my commitment to conservation and telling the stories of different species.
My hope is that through my work, you might also deepen your appreciation of all of these beautiful animals. Look closely, and you'll see a glimpse of their very essence.
Thank you so much for reading and coming along on this journey.
Teri Webster
the very first picture I took of JJ
