{"id":33153,"date":"2025-07-28T14:26:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T12:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=33153"},"modified":"2025-08-04T09:26:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T07:26:46","slug":"why-is-nature-photography-important-and-how-can-it-help-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/why-is-nature-photography-important-and-how-can-it-help-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is nature photography important and how can it help conservation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At a time when nature faces climate change, habitat loss, and the overexploitation of resources<\/strong>, photography is taking on an increasingly important role. It is no longer just a means of expression or a hobby, it is becoming a tool for documentation, inspiration, and a call to preserve what we still have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A picture is worth a thousand words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nature photography is not just a “pretty picture”. A powerful photograph can tell a story about an endangered species, environmental changes, or nature that can still be saved. Visual imagery reaches audiences faster and more effectively than statistics or dry reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we discuss with others, 80% of what we personally experience, and 95% or what we teach others”, said Edgar Da<\/strong>le, the American educator who developed the Cone of Experience, also known as the learning pyramid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we see a photo of a baby turtle hatching on a sandy beach and crawling toward the sea despite dangers from all sides, we don\u2019t need much explanation. That\u2019s exactly why nature conservation organizations use photography \u2013\u00a0to capture attention, raise funds, and influence legislative change<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But not every nature photo is “beautiful” in the classical sense. Some of the most striking images are the ones that evoke discomfort \u2013 burned forests, animals entangled in plastic, trash floating in the sea. These pictures may not be pleasant to look at, but they strike exactly where they need to. They reveal a reality that\u2019s hard to ignore. And sometimes that unvarnished truth has more impact than a perfectly timed sunset over the open ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nature through the lens: more than a hobby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to photographer and conservationist Lana Tannir<\/strong>, nature photography has the power to shape how we perceive the world. In her blog, she emphasized that “photographs don\u2019t just document reality \u2013 they shape awareness and inspire empathy”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the era of social media, a good photo can go viral and spread an important message to thousands or even millions of people. Campaigns to save degraded habitats or endangered species often began with one powerful image that kept being shared again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, many photographers didn\u2019t begin their careers as activists. More often than not, they were enthusiasts drawn by the beauty of landscapes, animals, or light, and eventually realized their photos could serve a greater purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature photography teaches patience, observation, and silence. Over time, changes become visible through the lens: fewer birds than last year, trees disappearing, colors fading. And that\u2019s when a hobby turns into a calling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A view from a different perspective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nature photographers are often the first to notice environmental changes simply because they are constantly outside, in the field, observing nature up close and returning to the same places. An article published by Backcountry Journeys<\/em> \u2013 an American travel company offering over 100 global photo tours and workshops \u2013 explains how these individuals, often without academic degrees, become the first messengers of climate change<\/strong>, species extinction, or spreading pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their photographs aren\u2019t just inspirational images for calendars, they become records of our time. They literally “capture” moments that can serve as evidence that something has changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One well-known example is photos of plastic found in the stomachs of seabirds<\/strong>. These images shocked the public and spread across social media at lightning speed. They weren\u2019t beautiful or artistically refined, which made them powerful and brutally honest. Global debates followed about plastic in the seas and oceans, and some countries began implementing bans on plastic bags and straws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same goes for photos of glaciers disappearing year by year. Series of “before and after” shots have become tangible visual proof of climate change. A temperature increase of 1.5\u00b0C might not stir many people, but when they see that an entire glacier that stood there ten years ago is now gone, the problem becomes real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emotional power of an image<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People respond to emotion. And nature photography, when done with empathy and authenticity, can move us deeply. It doesn\u2019t always have to be a dramatic image of an endangered species. Sometimes it\u2019s a simple photo \u2013 a seabird floating offshore, a sea cave with the dawn breaking behind it, or waves crashing on a beach \u2013 that reminds viewers how precious nature is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once we become “hooked” on such sights, it\u2019s hard to ignore them. And then comes the most important part: the desire to protect that beauty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Source: Public Institution for the Management of Protected Areas in Split-Dalmatia County \u2013 SEA AND KARST<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond raising awareness, nature photography is also a tool for education<\/strong>. Photos often illustrate scientific papers, school textbooks, exhibitions, and awareness campaigns, and they encourage people to travel sustainably<\/a>. Photographs that are crucial for researches can turn photographers into citizen scientists!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the Photo Ark<\/em> project by photographer Joel Sartore<\/strong> aims to photograph every animal species living in zoos and wildlife reserves across the world. These photos are not just impressive, they are an archive of what may soon no longer exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone can participate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, expensive equipment is no longer a requirement for photography. Smartphones with good cameras allow anyone to document the nature around them. Even the simplest photo, when shared with the right message<\/strong>, can have a major impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to encourage people to take pictures, share them, and raise awareness. Some of the most influential environmental campaigns were launched by amateurs \u2013 people who, while walking in nature, decided to share what they saw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to individual enthusiasm, nature photography is also encouraged by numerous photo contests, such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/em> or the National Geographic Photo Contest<\/em>, which not only reward artistic value but also highlight the stories behind the lens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your perspective can make a difference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nature photography is not just visual art. It is documentation, a call for empathy, a warning, and perhaps most importantly \u2013 a beacon of hope. At a time when Earth quietly endures everything humanity throws at it, the lens can become its voice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So next time you head to the coast or open sea, take a camera or smartphone with you and \u2013 while respecting ethical guidelines<\/a> for wildlife photography and laws protecting species and habitats \u2013 capture the marine world. Submit your photos to our “Adriatic Treasures” photo contest<\/a> and show us what the Adriatic looks like through your lens! Everyone can participate, regardless of experience, and entries are open until August 31, 2025<\/strong>, via Google Forms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose one of the two categories \u2013 Adriatic wildlife<\/strong> (Loggerhead sea turtles, Ferruginous duck, and Kentish plover) or Adriatic habitats<\/strong> (Posidonia seagrass meadows,\u00a0muddy and sandy seabeds that are not covered by the sea at low tide, and\u00a0submerged or partially submerged sea caves) \u2013 and share with us the scenes that deserve to be seen. The best photographs will be presented to an international expert audience at project events, and winners can expect valuable prizes. Your shot could inspire change \u2013don\u2019t miss the chance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contest is organized as part of the\u00a0ASPEH project \u2013 Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas<\/a>, funded by the Interreg Italy\u2013Croatia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021\u20132027. The project aims to preserve the Adriatic\u2019s biodiversity through shared tools and strategies for protecting key species and habitats, and by improving management of Natura 2000 sites. It promotes cross-border cooperation between Italy and Croatia to protect the ecological integrity of the Adriatic Sea and ensure the long-term sustainable development of this precious region.<\/em>\u00a0The project is co-financed by the European Union and the Office for Cooperation with NGOs of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. The views expressed in this call are the sole responsibility of the ASPEH project and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Office for Cooperation with NGOs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"aspeh-interreg-eu\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nature photography raises awareness, documents change, and supports conservation \u2013 your shot could be the beginning of change!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":33139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1269,473,5],"tags":[1381,1267],"class_list":["post-33153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aspeh-adriatic-species-and-habitats-of-coastal-areas-en","category-live-green","category-news","tag-adriatic-treasures","tag-aspeh"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33153"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33272,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33153\/revisions\/33272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}