The issue here, the appropriately-named elephant in the room, is finding actual evidence of real change. Many agencies and photographers claim this as part of their remit. The general approach begins with raising awareness, perhaps also campaigning or influencing decision makers. But I can find very little proof of actual difference. This is not to say it is not important work – for example raising awareness of the environment, particularly among young people, is important – education is vital, information is power, etc., etc.
The only time I have seen this work effectively is where famous photographers with a wealthy and influential client base have used their work, and sales from their work (either on a percentage basis or via charity auctions), to highlight and raise money for specific causes. A good example is Nick Brandt and his Big Life foundation. I was already aware of Big Life and Brandt’s work (https://land515050.home.blog/2019/03/06/nick-brandt/) and to be honest wanted to find a different example, but have struggled to do so!
The stimulus for the foundation was the death of Igor, an iconic elephant photographed by Brandt who has become a “poster elephant” for the organisation:
Formed in 2010 by Brandt and two partners, with a specific goal to improve cross-border anti-poaching capabilities across the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem, Big Life’s website contains a timeline of accomplishments that is notable simply because I could find nothing like it on the websites of other environment advocates. Stats on rangers hired , field posts, mobile tent units, elephants saved, poacher arrests, weapon seizures, protective fencing erected, aerial surveillance, etc. are all there in black and white.
Key to the project is the local community work – with rather against the local people, providing jobs, finance and education to help solve the problems when people live close to dangerous animals in an environment in which neither roam free any longer.
Brandt’s percentage of sales donations may not be totally philanthropic (this is not a criticism, just an analysis of the sales message) – if sales are significantly greater because of the charity message he may in the end make more, even after giving up a percentage. However even if this were to be the case, the result is still a good one.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATION
- Nick Brandt Elephant Drinking, Amboseli 2007 At: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/nick-brandt-elephant-drinking-amboseli-2014 (Accessed 15.7.2022)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- https://biglife.org/ (Accessed 15.7.2022)
Level 3.1 Learning Log 