How does wildlife photography help wildlife!
How does wildlife photography help wildlife!
Studies have shown that even though we live in the cities, we all crave the outdoors as we have the caveman in our genes. Nature is where we all belong, and this is why we all enjoy a walk in the park, looking at meandering clouds, watching shooting stars or visiting wildlife sanctuaries. And a lot of us have a special connection with the wildlife that surrounds us and this we accentuate with wildlife photography.
Wildlife photography is surely one of the most challenging and rewarding genres of photography. And even though most people see it as a hobby, it can act as a serious tool to bring about change in the way we treat our wildlife.
A single photo can make a big impact
Pictures of endangered wildlife have an immeasurable effect on conservation efforts around the world. These photographers discuss what keeps them enthused about their job and extend their strategies for capturing images of the animals on Earth. Through photography, we become aware of our wildlife, connect with them and this might lead to conservation efforts. And thanks to social media, we come across tons of wildlife-related content through various channels leading to increased awareness.
When you look at a lovely image of an endangered animal, chances are that this will inspire someone to understand their situation. Both people and photographers can act to preserve places and exceptional animals based on photographs. If you are worried about the environment, documenting these regions yourself, or helping to protect significant habitats, photography is a great way to begin making a difference.
Pictures can have a significant influence on educating people, especially children, on the environment and wildlife, igniting habitat or a species, and also creating regions of a wildlife refuge. A picture is truly worth more than a thousand words. Good quality photographs are crucial in a conservation campaign to get the right message across.
From the tiniest insect to the largest mammal, there are dozens of species on earth, millions of them if you include all of the plants, therefore there’s an awful lot out there one can record! Wildlife photography requires not a little bit of obsession, patience and a little bit of luck, and anyone who does this will see their rewards when they click the perfect moment.
Wildlife Photography: A tool to highlight problems
But it’s not just about showing you amazing pictures of animals. Wildlife photography is an important tool to highlight problems. It can be instrumental in making people aware of the broader issues facing the survival of wildlife in our jungles, which then prompts support for more widespread conservation efforts in the future.
Photography can capture the condition of a national park, zoo or centre where animals are kept. Illegal deforestation, mining, and pollution that threatens wildlife survival in the region have often become the highlight of many cases. Photography serves to show people that wildlife can’t survive if the environment is not conducive to healthy living.
The videoes and the pictures have well documented the plight of the tiger and the rhinoceros are going through. Photographers and filmmakers have played a vital role in raising awareness of these species. Now, the Bengal Tiger remains one of the most iconic species on the planet. The tigers might be extinct by now if people had been subjected to beautiful photographs of the critters. Sadly, some species have become extinct over time, and more will face extinction. But if photographers and viewers increase their conservation efforts, we can still protect other species before it’s too late.
Discovering new species
Good cameras have become more accessible to the general public and wildlife photography has sort of become a popular hobby. As a result of all that content being generated, scientists have now been able to collect information about places they haven’t been to. They are able to identify newer plant and animal species as well without themselves documenting it.
For example, till about a decade ago not many people knew about the existence of the clouded leopards. A few tourists manage to click them in North East India. Therefore, due to wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, we can now find them in over five national parks in the Eastern region of India. The world is now seeing an increase in conservation photography. As a result, this is creating more awareness about wildlife and highlighting their plight.
When journalism meets wildlife photography, that’s when a conservation effort comes into being. A single image can inspire, move people in a way that a whole book probably cannot. A single picture can expose problems and can help get people to help out. You don’t have to be published in national newspapers and online forums to make a difference. Even local photographers can have a tremendous impact on getting their viewers to think about what’s going on environmentally.
Final Words
What wildlife photography can do is to spread content amongst the masses. In a hope, that it will lead to greater awareness. Consequently, this creates an increased sense of responsibility and eventually, solid actions are taken to save our animals. Sometimes, people aren’t even aware that some species exist. And that’s where wildlife photography has a vital role to play. Wildlife photographers serve as conservationists and influencers. They bring in to light, the species that most people would not have known existed previously. They, therefore, wouldn’t have thought of attempting to save them.
The great thing about wildlife photography is that it can be taken up either as a profession or a hobby. Whether to raise awareness or you’re in it to earn a living, it is possible to do your part to help out. And the first thing you can do to kick start is by taking a trip to some of the best national parks in the world that we cater to!
We run many of the safaris and photography tours around the Indian subcontinent and in Africa. Be sure to check out the tours that we offer.
Please let us know in comments, what are the other purpose Wildlife Photography serves.
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Kirti Ranjan is the co-founder of Safari Monks, a professional travel and guided photo tours company, designed to help you get the best out of your camera whilst exploring wonderful destinations. A professional photographer for over a decade, Kirti, enjoys photographing the surreal landscapes and wilderness in its real environment.