Today is North American Nature Photography Day, and here at Greenpeace we’re celebrating with — what else — photos. Not just because they’re beautiful and we like them, but because photography plays a crucial role in the environmental movement, allowing us to tell stories, convey emotion, and compel action. (And because they’re beautiful and we like them.)
Here’s our senior photo editor Bob Meyers:
“Nature photography opens a window through which we can begin to understand the power and beauty of the Earth. When I look at nature in photographs, it makes me want to see that place for myself. Even when that’s not possible, it inspires me to look at nature around me wherever I am.”
Greenpeace has benefitted from the work of incredible photographers, whose skill and vision transports us to some of the wildest places on Earth from the comfort of our desks. To thank them — and because we’d never pass up an excuse to share these amazing images — here’s a look at four of the best nature photographers in the game and where you can find more of their work.
1. Daniel Beltrá
Daniel Beltrá’s body of work ranges from breathtaking views of Arctic ice floes to gut-wrenching images of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the latter of which he compiled into the 2013 book “Spill.” Daniel often works from the air, photographing from planes up to and even above 1,000 feet in the sky.
Check out Daniel’s Instagram or follow him on Facebook for more photos and updates from the field.
2. Paul Hilton
Paul Hilton is a conservation photographer whose work has helped make the case for protecting an incredible range of ecosystems both on land and in the oceans. Based in Hong Kong, Paul’s documented deforestation for palm oil in Southeast Asia and and the shark fin trade in the South Pacific, just to name a few. Last year, he lent his expertise to “Racing Extinction,” a documentary and campaign to raise awareness around endangered species and mass extinction.
3. Nick Cobbing
Nick Cobbing primarily focuses on the Arctic, where he photographs the region’s stunning wildlife and terrain for various publishers and NGOs. His work captures the ways climate change is impacting the region — like melting sea ice and habitat loss — underpinning the science of global warming with an undeniable visual story.
4. Will Rose and Katja Sjölander
We could have easily given Will Rose and Katja Sjölander their own places on this list, but since they’ve worked as a team since 2009 we thought it most appropriate to keep them together. Based in Sweden, the duo has shot extensively in the Arctic, Russia, China, India, and Indonesia. Will just completed a tour of the Indian Ocean with Greenpeace’s tuna campaign, documenting and exposing the destructive industrial fishing practices that are threatening ocean ecosystems and depleting global fish stocks.
