{"id":12588,"date":"2022-01-18T19:03:05","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T19:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=12588"},"modified":"2022-01-20T09:48:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T09:48:04","slug":"doug-gimesy-ranger-rick-photographer-of-the-year-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/18\/doug-gimesy-ranger-rick-photographer-of-the-year-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Doug Gimesy – Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

On January 12th, Australian photographer Doug Gimesy won the National Wildlife Federation Ranger Rick<\/em> Photographer of the Year Award 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Doug brings so much joy and passion to his work as a wildlife photographer\u2014it\u2019s palpable in the photos he presents and the stories he portrays”, said Susan McElhinney, Ranger Rick\u2019s photo editor. \u201cThrough his photography, our readers not only learn more about extraordinary wildlife, but are also able to experience his journeys and perspective right from home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doug Gimesy is a Conservation and Wildlife Photojournalist based in Australia. He is also a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. He initially trained as a zoologist and then completed a Masters in Environment and Masters in Bioethics. Together, these two qualifications shaped his thinking about the issues he should be focusing on and why.<\/p>\n

Doug explains about the importance of images to drive change<\/h3>\n

To celebrate Doug’s prestigious award, we’ve created a new gallery showcasing a range of his best work<\/a>, and we asked him to select a set of images and to tell us why they are important to him:<\/p>\n

“All these images are important to me because I hope they will, in some way, deeply engage people’s emotions. Not only emotions like curiosity, delight, joy, empathy, hope, but also the darker emotions of sadness,\u00a0frustration\u00a0and anger. I\u00a0believe by engaging\u00a0emotions people are more likely to act and try to make the world a better place. <\/em><\/p>\n

That action may be changing personal behaviour (for example slowing down when driving at night, giving wildlife its space). Or it may be supporting those who work to help wildlife. For me, the true power and importance of a conservation and wildlife image comes from its ability\u00a0to drive\u00a0positive behaviour. Because, whilst caring is important, if people don\u2019t start doing something, or stop doing something, or do more of something or less of something, nothing will change, and we so need change in the world.”<\/em><\/p>\n