Above: A long exposure accentuates the graceful motion of a troupe of
Burchell’s Zebra in Zimbabwe. Right: Close-up of an Abalone shell. Opposite:
Monks at the Norbutse Bon Monastery near Kathmandu. All photos by Art Wolfe.
tographing the world’s natural beauty is a form of healing to me.” Addition-
ally, gaining such close access to remote places and cultures unavoidably
plunges him into the core of conservation and preservation concerns, which
he embraces. “I think that nature combined with photography is a very vivid
form of activism. Very rarely do I take on a project without weaving in a
component of preservation and care; whenever I can, I try to connect with
an environmental group to give them a platform to further their cause.”
I asked Wolfe about the use of beauty in his work; in a past interview
he said that he tried to win conservation support by “sharing the beauty of
the world.” This is a common approach for conservation photographers—
emphasizing the beauty of a threatened place or species elicits a connec-
tion, whereas focusing on environmental devastation can lead to a feeling
of helplessness. He explained that while he certainly seeks out inspiring,
New from Art Wolfe:
Dogs Make Us Human:
A Global Family Album
(Bloomsbury USA)
Text by Jeffrey Moussaieff
Masson.
A groundbreaking tribute to
canine and human friendship
around the globe as inspired
by the classic photography
book The Family of Man.
eloquent, and motivational images, he doesn’t ignore the other side of
things. “If I pass a factory that’s spewing chemicals, of course I am going
to photograph that. I like to say I photograph without prejudice—every-
thing that is in front of my camera I shoot and that often includes slums
and factories and degradation of the earth.”
These days Wolfe’s rigorous schedule has not waned, and he’s finding
additional satisfaction in leading workshops. His appetite for imagery is still
insatiable, but he finds sharing his knowledge with other aficionados to be
very fulfilling. “There is always more to discover even in the areas you know
best and I have found that rediscovering them through other people’s eyes
is wonderfully rewarding.”
