Conservation photography
Encyclopedia
Conservation photography is the active use of the photographic process
and its products, within the parameters of the journalistic
activity, to achieve concrete conservation
outcomes in the context of the biocultural landscape.
Conservation photography is used to empower conservation. Photography has served this role since the 1860s, although not widely acknowledged. Renewed emphasis on photography-for-conservation arose at the beginning of the 21st century, primarily in response to the human-caused environmental crisis, recognizing that the global pattern of ecosystem
degradation was not sustainable.
Conservation photography combines nature photography
with the proactive, issue-oriented approach of documentary photography
as an agent for sustaining the biosphere
and ethnosphere. Conservation Photography furthers environmental or cultural conservation through ethical photography.
The modern field of conservation photography was born in October 2005 with the founding of the International League of Conservation Photographers
during the 8th World Wilderness Congress
in Anchorage, Alaska
. Prior to 2005 "conservation photography" was not recognized as a discipline.
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and its products, within the parameters of the journalistic
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
activity, to achieve concrete conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
outcomes in the context of the biocultural landscape.
Conservation photography is used to empower conservation. Photography has served this role since the 1860s, although not widely acknowledged. Renewed emphasis on photography-for-conservation arose at the beginning of the 21st century, primarily in response to the human-caused environmental crisis, recognizing that the global pattern of ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
degradation was not sustainable.
Conservation photography combines nature photography
Nature photography
Nature photography refers to a wide range of photography taken outdoors and devoted to displaying natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures...
with the proactive, issue-oriented approach of documentary photography
Documentary photography
Documentary photography usually refers to a popular form of photography used to chronicle significant and historical events. It is typically covered in professional photojournalism, but it may also be an amateur, artistic, or academic pursuit...
as an agent for sustaining the biosphere
Biosphere
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be called the zone of life on Earth, a closed and self-regulating system...
and ethnosphere. Conservation Photography furthers environmental or cultural conservation through ethical photography.
The modern field of conservation photography was born in October 2005 with the founding of the International League of Conservation Photographers
International League of Conservation Photographers
The International League of Conservation Photographers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography...
during the 8th World Wilderness Congress
World Wilderness Congress
The World Wilderness Congress is the longest-running, public international environmental forum and is the flagship project of .The 1st WWC was held in South Africa in 1977 and has had a total of 8 meetings. It was founded by South African conservationist Dr Ian Player and Laurens van der Post...
in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. Prior to 2005 "conservation photography" was not recognized as a discipline.
Publications about Conservation Photography
- Conservation Photography (a thesis exploring the emerging field)
- [(http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/conservation-and-ethics/153-conservation-photography-art-born-of-environmental-ethic)]
- Witness: Defining Conservation Photography (a multimedia video defining the emerging field)