Advocating Environmental Issues Beyond Photography

Abstract

Disenchanted with traditional media (e.g., newspapers, television, radio) and political scheming of environmental issues, photographers have recently cultivated media partnerships and alliances with specialized entities to tell stories through niche media channels and emerging media platforms (e.g., email, blogs, websites, podcasts, social media). Therefore, this research explored how modern photographers visualize what is happening to people, places, and spaces on a changing planet and how they use emerging technologies in an effort to make a difference. Interviews with photographers working with environment and nature organizations revealed for now, photographers’ use all media to generate awareness and compel action. The bulk of the photographers interviewed also are rethinking storytelling through a collaboration of media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, blogs, websites, etc.) to show how humankind have affected the degradation of the Earth and all its inhabitants; and, with any luck stir their emotions so they move people to action.

Keywords::

• Advocacy
• Environment
• Interview
• Photography
• Visual

Notes

Nature and environmental organizations consisted of Blue Earth Alliance (BEA), International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), Images for Conservation Fund (ICF), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), 350.org and National Geographic (NatGeo). These organizations were identified because they have gained recognition in the public sphere for actively working with photographers to advocate environmental issues (Balog, 2007; Blewitt, 2010; Cohen, 2008; Farnsworth, 2011; Mittermeier, 2005; Schonauer, 2007; Ward, 2008; Ware, 2011).

Requests for voluntary participation was sent to all 291 photographers listed on the above mentioned organization’s websites. A total of 53 photographers responded to interview requests for a response rate of 19%.

Interview questions were adopted and modified from previous research on conservation photography (Ward, 2008), as well as inspired by an interview with environmental journalist Greg Harman printed in SEJournal (Dawson, 2009), and two articles about environmental photography (Archibald, 2009a, 2009b).

All photographers were emailed the same list of questions to ensure consistency in questioning.

Due to space limitations, only two themes are reported here. Other themes will be discussed separately.

Length of responses varied from a short and simple sentence to long and thoughtful paragraphs for each question. Time interacting with interviewees also varied from one email to two or three follow-up emails depending on the need for clarification.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle I. Seelig

Michelle I. Seelig (PhD, Florida State University, 2001) is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at the University of Miami, 5100 Brunson Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146. E-mail: [email protected]