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. 

Post-WildPhotos Online Passes

Our Online Pass gives you post-event access to our delegate app, allowing you to catch up and watch back live streams of this years sessions.

PLUS access Headliners, Masterclasses, Decision Maker Clinics and more from this years festival as well as our full film library of this year’s Official Selection and Panda Award Nominees for only £10 more! That’s over 60 natural history films and episodes at your fingertips!

Tickets start at just £15! 

 

Programme

    Take a look at our topics and takeaways from this event.

Welcome Talk

    Kathy Moran began the day with a snapshot of what was to come as well as what had 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, joined the welcome and CEO, Matt Barker, said 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?
    Photographers and videographers Evgenia Arbugaeva, Peter Ndung’u and Joris van Alphen shared how they work in both worlds.
    • This session was 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.
    Photographers Ingo Arndt, Dhritiman Mukherjee and Chien Lee shared 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 was 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. Our panel of experts shared tips on how to pitch ideas and secure funding with National Geographic Society Vice President for Storytelling Grants and Programs Rachael Strecher moderating 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 shared 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.
    Photographers Jaime Rojo, Morgan Heim and Hannah Reyes Morales shared a diverse range of topics from butterfly migrations to coastal communities that explore this storytelling genre.
    • This session was 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 shared 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 were 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

WILDPHOTOS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION

Our free outdoor public exhibition featured Wildlife Photographer of the Year Finalists. 

Kindly sponsored by Steppes Travel.

Wednesday 2nd October 2024 – Monday 21st October 2024

College Green, Bristol

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.

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