What is conservation photography? Evaluating visual communication's role in environmental research and outreach

Background/Question/Methods: Photography has been used as a conservation tool since its influence in creating the first U.S. national park to protect wilderness in the 1860s. Today, when the majority of the world's citizens reside in built environments, away from nature, and technology is heavily embedded in and connects many societies' ways of life, there is both great need and great opportunity for including strategic visual communications in environmental conservation. Conservation photography, photography that empowers conservation (Ward 2008), and other artistic visual communications are being increasingly used in environmental science, outreach and education activities. We examined and assessed the effectiveness of conservation photography in terms of its level of participation and specific role in documentation and outreach in four case studies in which research scientists, educators and policy makers collaborated with members of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP; www.ilcp.com), the Environmental Committee of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA; www.nanpa.org), and Art for Conservation (www.artforconservation.org) to pursue environmental conservation goals. Results/Conclusions: While substantial research is necessary in order to quantify the significance of photography in conservation, our results indicate the advantageous nature of this visually communicative platform for disseminating scientific information and conservation messages. Here suggested ways in which present day environmental scientists and conservation practitioners can employ the use of visual imagery in their own work can dually serve as opportunities to quantify photography's effect on conservation outcomes.