Lessons 7–8: Joel Sartore—Wildlife
lens to shoot through the wire of a cage. If you’re standing close enough, the
lens will blur the wire.Of course, you don’t have to go to distant locations to photograph wildlife;
there are plenty of interesting creatures and plants in your own backyard,
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to shoot subjects that are small in scope and uncomplicated. Or decide on
a project for yourself—a subject that’s fascinating or special to you—and
photograph it again and again over time.Saving Wildlife
The Photo Ark is a project that grew out of the desire to increase the
appreciation of the public for animals—to get people to see that they have
beauty, curiosity, and intelligence, much as we do. Most of the photos in
this project are shot in studio or controlled conditions, with the animals set
against a black or white background. This simple backdrop draws viewers
into the eyes of the animals and lets them see details they never could in
nature. It also brings out the character of the animals—showing a turtle that
looks as if it’s smiling, for example, or a cheetah with soulful eyes.With such projects as the Photo Ark—or any focus on wildlife photography—
the photographer becomes a messenger for the cause of saving animals
from extinction and setting aside some wilderness spaces for ourselves. The
pictures are tools to draw people in, to encourage them to care about animals
and learn about what drives species extinction. Such images have been used
in campaigns to publicize the work of zoos and to educate people about
the impact of hunting and other human occupations on animal populations.
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animals—mice, snails, or sparrows—can bring about real-world results. A
photo of the Florida grasshopper sparrow that appeared on a magazine cover
prompted the Fish and Wildlife Service to devote resources to saving it. And
for many photographers, that’s the goal of wildlife photography: to educate
the world about saving endangered species.