Programme Sneak Peek! Wildscreen Festival 2024
We’re just under two months away from the biggest global gathering of natural world storytellers, and today, we’re giving you an exclusive sneak peek into the Festival programme.
WILDPHOTOS
On October 13th 2024 a world-class line-up of speakers came together for a unique programme of talks and panels at Bristol Aquarium Megascreen that explored the triumphs and challenges of capturing nature in photography, as well as the future of the genre.
Programme
- Take a look at our topics and takeaways from this event.
Welcome Talk
- Kathy Moran will begin the day and give a snapshot of whats to come as well as what has been. WildPhotos returns to celebrate and explore the mastery of capturing wildlife and nature photography. Wildscreen is proud to partner with Natural History Museum, London’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year to host this one day event.
- WildPhotos Headline Sponsor, MPB.com, joins the welcome and CEO, Matt Barker, will say a few words on the importance of visual storytelling in a way that’s good for the people and the planet.
Two Worlds
- These days thanks to technology and client demands most photographers find themselves having to produce film as part of their deliverables. For many this is a frustrating necessity while others embrace it as an inspiring challenge and a critical component of their storytelling. How do you decide when the moment should be a still or film? Can you do it all or do you need a team? Is the future video or photography?
- Join photographers and videographers Evgenia Arbugaeva, Peter Ndung’u and Joris van Alphen as they share how they work in both worlds.
- This session is kindly sponsored by MPB.com.
Under Our Feet
- It is the little things that make the world go around. The things that buzz, slither or crawl. Or, looking at it through a different lens, the creatures that pollinate, recycle, control pests and aerate the soil. So many of the smaller unsung and often unloved species are the ones that provide ecosystem services critical to the health of wild places and wildlife, including us.
- Join photographers Ingo Arndt, Dhritiman Mukherjee and Chien Lee for their lightning sessions as they share their appreciation for diverse environments and the species that keep them operating.
Thomas Peschak:
The Amazon, A Journey From the Andes to the Atlantic
- National Geographic photographer and marine biologist Thomas Peschak has spent decades documenting ocean ecosystems. Looking for a new challenge he spent 396 days following the course of the Amazon River and its tributaries across South America, from snow-capped Andean volcanos to pristine lowland jungles, through coastal mangroves and across the Caribbean, where the river meets the sea. Instead of sharks, whales, and sea turtles he encountered piranhas, swimming sloths, pink dolphins and dedicated conservationists. Thomas’ narrative blends photojournalism, exploration, and art as he redefines the Amazon as more than forest, but rather the most biodiverse freshwater ecosystem on our planet.
- This session is kindly sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation.
How to Pitch Stories and Fund Photography
- In the increasingly competitive world of editorial photography what are the best ways to submit story proposals to publications, find funding for long-term projects and build new relationships. Join our panel of experts for tips on how to pitch ideas and secure funding. National Geographic Society Vice President for Storytelling Grants and Programs Rachael Strecher will moderate a discussion around best practices.
- Sabine Meyer, Photography Director, for Audubon, Richard Edwards, Head of Content, WWF-UK, Britta Jaschinski, freelance photographer, Alexa Keefe, Managing Editor, Photography, for National Geographic magazine and Robin Moore, Vice President, Communications and Marketing for re:wild will share their strategies for successful pitching.
The Conservation Narrative
- Beautiful wildlife images make people care about the natural world – we need them – but the stories that must be told, the photographs that must be seen, are the ones that shine a light on our relationship with the natural world. Conservation storytelling creates a visual narrative, with photography as evidence, of what is happening to wildlife and wild places as well as highlighting solutions.
- Join photographers Jaime Rojo, Morgan Heim and Hannah Reyes Morales as they share a diverse range of topics from butterfly migrations to coastal communities that explore this storytelling genre.
- This session is kindly supported by International League of Conservation Photographers.
Water World
- There is more water than land on our planet yet for many our oceans, freshwater lakes and rivers and wetlands, that liminal space in between, are an enduring mystery. However, these ecosystems are critical to the overall health of the planet. Home to myriad species and a source of joy and sustenance for millions we need to understand the state of our waterways.
- Photographers Justin Gilligan, Shane Gross and Tony Wu will share their experiences across multiple environments from coral reefs to vernal pools to open oceans. All creatures, tadpoles to whales, are connected under the surface.
Charlie Hamilton James:
End Times
- “End Times” is the evolution of photographer Charlie Hamilton James’ work from photojournalism into an artistic exploration of global environmental collapse and how we consume information about the natural world. By reframing his visual narrative Hamilton James creates images that encourage audiences to engage and emphasize with challenging topics. The photographs are meant to work on an emotional level that portray humanity in a brutal and honest way. The work is dark, occasionally funny and always confrontational. His journey and the photographs that he has made make for powerful storytelling.
Speakers
We are thrilled to be joined by the following speakers at WildPhotos 2024.
Kathy Moran
Host & Producer
Thomas Peschak
Photographer, Conservationist & Marine Biologist
Charlie Hamilton James
Photographer & Wildlife Filmmaker
Joris Van Alphen
Documentary Cinematographer
Evgenia Arbugaeva
Photographer and Filmmaker
Peter Ndung’u
Photographer and Filmmaker
Dhritiman Mukherjee
Nature Wildlife and Conservation Photographer
Chien Lee
Photographer
Ingo Arndt
Wildlife Photographer
Alexa Keefe
Senior Photo Editor, Wildlife
National Geographic Magazine
Robin Moore
VP Comms and Marketing
Re:wild
Britta Jaschinski
Photographer
Rachael Strecher
Vice President, Storytelling
National Geographic Society
Richard Edwards
Head of Content
WWF UK
Sabine Meyer
Photography Director
National Audubon Society
Jaime Rojo
Photographer
Hannah Reyes Morales
Photographer
Morgan Heim
Conservation Photographer & Filmmaker
Shane Gross
Marine Conservation Photojournalist
Tony Wu
Underwater Photographer
Justin Gilligan
Conservation Photojournalist
Sponsors
A massive thank you to our Headline Sponsor – MPB.com.
Thank you to our Session Sponsor – Save Our Seas Foundation. And thanks to our Supporters – iLCP & Leica.
A thank you to our Public Exhibition Sponsor – Steppes Travel.
A thank you to our Media Partner – BBC Wildlife
And of course a huge thank you to our Partner, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
WILDPHOTOS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION
And before the WildPhotos, don’t forget to check out the free public exhibition that will feature Wildlife Photographer of the Year Finalists.
This is kindly sponsored by Steppes Travel.
Wednesday 2nd October 2024 – Monday 21st October 2024
College Green, Bristol
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