Conservation Photography

By Alison Barrat

From September 2012 to May 2013 we conducted one of the most extensive assessments of French Polynesian reef systems ever done. Our Scientists researched in four of the five archipelagos, Society Islands, Tuamotu, Gambier and the Austral Islands.  These research missions gave us a chance to compare and contrast reefs over a large area of human impact, and we’re still working on processing the massive amount of data we collected.

But we wanted to share more than the scientific results; we wanted to share a glimpse of what the world was like on these remote reefs, to help people really connect with the creatures that live there. So in January of 2013 we partnered with Michele Westmoreland and the International league of Conservation Photographers to help us achieve that goal.

The International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) is a U.S. based non-profit organization established in 2005 with the simple goal of enlisting the skills and expertise of some of the world’s best conservation photographers to help advance conservation efforts around the world. Michele Westmoreland is one of those photographers; she says “Coral reefs are one of the most spectacular environments to photograph. While reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, they are critical Michele Westmorland, Photographerhabitat for about 25 percent of all marine life. They come in many bright colors from red to green and an enormous variety of shapes. The creatures housed within them are equally as brilliant. But over the last 20 years it has gotten harder and harder to find reefs to photograph that are truly healthy and vibrant.”

The Foundation has a strong emphasis on education and outreach. The data we collect, the habitat maps, reports and papers are all given back to the local communities, but we also use photos, films, live events and tours, social media and any other communication tool we have to convey on a visceral level what all the data means. We reach out to people in local and national government as well as people who make their living from the sea to try to gain support on the ground for any conservation recommendations we may have.

Our collaboration with Michele and iLCP provided stunning photographs that we have used in ocean conservation displays around the world. We hope you agree that these powerful images can inspire us all to act for better protection for our oceans.

Grey reef shark swimming in a healthy coral reef system.
Motion blur shot of Longfin bannerfish.
Acropora abrotanoides is the dominent coral in this image.
Acropora abrotanoides is the dominent coral in this image.
Pocillipora and Acropora coral.
Megan Cook diving at heathy reef system.
Joao Monteiro surveying reef system.
Exterior view of M/Y Golden Shadow.
Soldierfish under branches of healthy coral reef system.
Healthy reef system with a variety of tropical fish and corals.
Planning meeting with Capt. Phil Renaud, Brian Becker, Andrew Bruckner and Marie Kospartov. On board the M/Y Golden Shadow.
Dr. Andrew Bruckner, the science team and staff load SCUBA equipment onto the Calcutta.
Beautiful black pearls of the Gambier Islands held by a pearl farm technician. Showing traditional tattooing on arm.
Unidentified species of nudibranch.
Half-banded goby.
Over/under shot of shallow coral reef system.
Pearl farm divers retrieving oyster nets in open ocean.
Orange-fin Anemonefish in host anemone.
Scientist, Marie Kospartov, specialist on ocean corals surfacing with all her equipment.
Fine branching Acropora with a school of Humbug Dascyllus damselfish.
Fine branching Acropora.
Massive Porites colony with some with dispursed Caulerpa algae and giant clams. This coral only grows approx 1 cm per year. This colony could be more than 100 years old.
Branching Acropora abrotanoides and smaller Acropora. The white section suggests it could have been eaten by crown of thorns or a small snail. Bright white means the death happen very recent.
Pavona is the dominant coral in this image. Acropora is directly at the surface in this shallow water environment. Blue chromis schooling at the surface.
Giant clam surrounded by Coscinaraea coral.
Scientist, Jenna Moore, using camera and microscope system to identify tiny marinelife collected.

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Keith Ellenbogen, a photographer with iLCP, joined us for the Global Reef Expedition’s mission to Palau and shares his best photos and tales of his adventure in an article in National Geographic Voices.