Text copyright Cristina Mittermeier and Iñaki Relanzón, all rights reserved

Photography is a critical element in the conservation toolbox. It allows conservationists to cut across the boundaries of illiteracy and indifference that isolate people from our fundamental kinship and obligation to nature. Photography can ignite the spark that moves people into action. The relationship between photographer, subject and viewer, therefore, must be one that is cemented in truth and trust.

Author’s note: In November 2007, I had the good fortune to talk with controversial writer and environmental activist Derrick Jensen (see http://www.derrickjensen.org/). During our conversation I asked Derrick a number of questions pertaining to subject matter explored in his books “A Language Older Than Words,” “Listening to the Land” and “Thought to Exist in the Wild: Awakening to the Nightmare of Zoos.” The latter is the 2008 Eric Hoffer Book Award winner. His replies proved to be, as I anticipated they might, insightful, interesting and thought provoking. This first part has to do with human use and abuse of wild animals.

This follow up article is based on my experiences in the 2007 Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest, the world’s third richest photo contest. A now all-digital contest, there are other noteworthy changes in the contest format. For basic information about the contest, please see my 2005 Naturescapes.Net article.