Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-01-25)

subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 25 January 2020 27

foruseintraditionalChinese

medicine.Sheemphasisedthatthe

wildlifetradewassomuchbigger

thanbilebearsincrushcages.After

numerousmeetingsand

discussions,wecameupwiththe

ideaofinvitingotherphotographers

weadmireandrespecttoproducea

powerful,hauntingandyet

beautifulbookthattellsthetruth

abouttheillegalwildlifetrade.

Thesewerephotographerswho

hadbeencoveringthissubjectfor

manyyears,usuallythroughtheir

owninitiatives.Thebook,she

stressed,shouldreacha global

audience,usingpowerful

photography,socialmediaand

publicitytohelpbringanendtothe

illegaltradeinourlifetime.Of

particularconcerntouswasChina;

astheworld’slargestmarketfor

photojournalistwhojoinedthe

groupwasPaulHilton,whohas

over 20 years’experienceof

documentingSoutheastAsia’sworst

wildlifecrimeexcesses,including

sharkfinningandthetraffickingof

pangolins.Hefirmlybelievedthat

onlybygettingasmanylike-

mindedphotographersworking

togethercouldwepossiblybeginto

makea differenceinChina.

Theofficiallaunchof

PhotographersAgainstWildlifewas

announcedintheGuardianOnline

inOctober2017,withanextensive

galleryof 20 images.It proved

pivotaltothesuccessofthelaunch

astherewasimmediatepick-up

fromotheronlineandprintmedia

outletsallovertheworld.The

subsequentsharingoflinksto

ourwebsiteandcrowdfunding

wildlife products, getting this

message and the work of these

photographers to the Chinese

consumer was our ultimate

objective. Together, we would

choose stories and photos to create

a unique book exposing the reality

of this multi-billion-dollar crime.

And so, our concept was born.

Award-winning experience

As first recruits, Britta believed it

important to gain the support of

two of the most prominent

photographers working in this area,

former Wildlife Photographer of the

Year winners Brent Stirton and

Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols. This was the

beginning and both photographers

each shot a promotional video to

support our crowdfunding

campaign. Another renowned

A ranger’s bloody hand

rests on an ivory tusk

during an anti-poaching

mission in KwaZulu-

Natal, South Africa

Heathrow Airport

© BRITTA JASCHINSKI / PHOTOGRAPHERS AGAINST WILDLIFE CRIMEª