SHARJAH: Britta Jaschinski, a British wildlife photographer, on Saturday shared insights into her decades-long journey at the Focus Group stage of the Xposure International Photography Festival (Xposure 2024).
Through her talk, ‘Change Makers’, Britta took the audience on a captivating visual odyssey showcasing her most impactful projects that focused on wildlife captivity and the abuse of wild animals by humans. Her work unveils the hidden narratives that lie behind the lens.
‘My photography journey began three decades ago during college when I was drawn to capturing wildlife in captivity during the ’90s. The initial project was fuelled by an instinctive pull towards the plight of animals,’ she said to a room full of photographers eager to learn through her life’s work.
‘The revelation came to me in my darkroom when I realised that my images were teaching me profound lessons about the inherent wrongs of confining animals for human observation,’ she added.
This was the start of a lifetime of work in colla
boration with NGOs and authorities worldwide. Britta’s zoo photography project early in her career prompted her to question the ethics behind confining animals. ‘These photographs helped me raise concerns about the well-being of animals and how some zoos in Europe were not well-equipped to take care of them.’
The project marked the beginning of her advocacy for wildlife conservation.
Britta’s collaboration with the Born Free Foundation to document substandard zoos across Europe created great awareness and change. ‘The European Parliament recognised the need for better facilities for animals in zoos, and a number of zoo managements reached out to us to seek advice and help on how to improve conditions for animals,’ she noted.
Over the last few decades, her work has saved several animals in captivity and ushered change in societies. ‘I covered the harsh realities of the bear bile industry in China by documenting bears in tiny cages for the extraction of bile used in traditional Chinese medicine. The images,
which were not easy to capture, played a crucial role in Animals Asia’s efforts to convince the Chinese government to shut down these farms,’ she said, stressing the importance of relationship building for impactful photography.
‘I would not have gained access to many places on my own. Relationship building helps. And always remember, never be afraid to ask for help,’ she advised her audience.
Another piece of advice was to constantly review one’s work and connect with photographs on a personal level. ‘If you don’t love your photos, nobody else will,’ she said, adding that the emotional connection to the subject matter is pivotal in transmitting the message and impact to the viewers.
It is the effectiveness of photography that influences change. ‘The images I captured in China resonated globally and played a role in shutting down numerous facilities. I was told my images moved people. They created a psychological impact, allowing viewers to connect emotionally without being overwhelmed by graphic visuals,’
she concluded.
Source: Emirates News Agency