Why conservation photography?

Conservation photography is perhaps the single biggest driver to what I do today. There is no question that the world and our environment is being threatened from all sides. I believe that there is great benefit to humanity (and obviously to the rest of the species that share our planet) to leave and preserve vast areas in their wildest state. As such, I believe that we all have a responsibility to share in that effort. Images are very powerful. They are able to instantaneously transmit a message irrespective of the gender, culture, age group or sex of the audience. If used creatively and informatively photography can go a long way to persuading public emotions to further our goals of conservation. Particularly those of us, I believe, who benefit from the wild or protected areas, should be the first in line to help preserve them. Many photographers use these areas simply for personal photographic reasons without any payback to the region. If we (the countless millions of us) as a photographic community consolidate our efforts, amateur or professional, we become a massive lobby for the defence of nature.

A black rhinoceros is darted and slung fro a helicopter for relocation. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

Propellor marks are examined on the back of a west Indian manatee. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A park guard displays a confiscated leopard skin at Mbomo African Park's Congo Headquarters. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A man displays the skin of an arapaima from a harvest. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A researcher examines several glass frogs in a museum collection. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A researcher holds on to the fins of a great hammerhead shark underwater. Photography by conservation and underwater photographer Pete Oxford.

A child holds a tube while an eastern diamondback rattlesnake is put into it. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

An endangered white rhinoceros is darted for relocation. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A boy places an empty water bottle in the recycling bin at the Recycle Center for town of Puerto Ayora. All glass, plastic, bottles and cardboard are recycled and sent to the mainland for re-processing. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A man holds a hellbender salamander for research study. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

Lions darted for relocation are transported to an airfield via pick up truck. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A black caiman is shown as part of a mark and recapture study in Guyana. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

An endangered mountain tapir is captured by researchers in Ecuador. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

Eco guards tasked with protecting Kokoua National Park on patrol with automatic rifles. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

An Iberian lynx cub is hand fed by researchers because its mother was unable to take care of it. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A giant river turtle has its shell marked for future identification. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

Measurements are taken of this Caribbean reef shark. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.

A giant river turtle is carried back to the river after having its biometric data taken. Photograph by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.