Simply put, conservation efforts depend on winning the
hearts and minds of a community, whether local or global. Are the tools
available being used effectively?
Is a photograph still worth a 1000 words? It is often said
that a visual image delivers a much clearer message to the majority of people,
than words alone. Certainly the power of the photograph has long been a
mainstay of the charity world to invoke emotion, and you could argue there is
no better medium for the job of raising instant awareness and empathy for a
cause. The International League of Conservation Photographers1 is an
example of an organisation who clearly believes this. By linking with
scientists and NGOs, the photographers aim to further environmental and
cultural conservation. But are photographs being utilised effectively, and can
conservationists learn anything from politics?
During the 2012 American presidential election, social media
played a vital role in securing Obama his second term2. Not surprising
when you consider one study3 showing that young people are twice as
likely to vote if they are politically active online and another that 39% of
all American adults participate in online political activism. Ok, so you might
ask what politics has to do with conservation. When you consider that both
politics and conservation have the same ultimate goal, to cause action in an
individual and community, then perhaps it is worth taking note.
Is the photograph still vital to conservation? Is social
media being used as effectively as it should be? Is conservation truly
engaging?
Our annual photography competition is currently open to
amateur photographers, so feel free to check it out: http://www.thomsonecology.com/
Sources
Photo
MapBox Flickr Account - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
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