Conservation photography

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.

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)

Conservation Photography Organizations

• International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP)
• Legacy Institute for Nature & Culture (LINC)
• Blue Earth Alliance
• ARKive