Theo Allofs – Camargue, France II
July 6th, 2009 Posted in Southern Europe, UncategorizedOther Languages:
The Camargue Mission is completed.
As wonderful and diverse as the Camargue is, it is extremely difficult to photograph due to very limited access. The Camargue, a vast wetland formed by the Rhône Delta, is divided into private farmlands, rice fields, scientific organizations and a National Park. They all have one thing in common. The owners protect their property with barbed wire fences against trespassers. Even most gates have razor sharp wires on the top and are secured with heavy-duty locks. I also have never seen more “No Trespassing” (in French of course) signs anywhere else in the world except for military areas.
The planning of the project itself started with a more or less one-sided email communication between me and the scientists at the research centre Tour Du Valat located within the Camargue. In order to accomplish my mission I was largely dependent on the cooperation of this organization that owns large areas of natural habitat in the eastern part of the Camargue and also is in charge of the flamingo colony, the main focus of my mission. If answers to my inquiries came at all then only after repeated emails. Later, when I was already in the Camargue the lack of interest in the Wild Wonders of Europe project continued.
Within 3 weeks I was allowed to visit the flamingo colony twice for a total of 2.5 hours, barely enough time for getting a few strong images, not to mention a whole portfolio on the most important breeding site of flamingos in Europe. Only when the leader of the flamingo project said during a phone conversation “We don’t like if photographers take advantage of our work” did I realize the reason for the lack of communication and support.
This comment is both sad and incomprehensible. Can’t we both support each other to achieve ultimately the same goal: the protection of endangered habitats and species? What can be more powerful then a combination of scientific evidence and a powerful image. We photographers know the media and have the experience to reach large audiences.
Unfortunately this attitude towards photographers is not rare. I hear similar complaints from many of my colleagues. Some keep this problem silently to themselves. But silence doesn’t help to resolve this issue.
This misunderstanding between scientists and photographers is one of the reasons why 3 years ago at the World Wilderness Congress in Anchorage Alaska a group of 40 photographers formed the International League of Conversation Photographers (ILCP). The idea came from Cristina Mittermeier, wife of Russel Mittermeier, president of Conservation International. I am one of the founding members of this league. Our goal is for scientists and photographers to work hand in hand on conservation issues.
Some NGOs have seen that there is much power in great photographs and they support us in the field as good as possible. There are numerous great examples of successful co-operations between both parties.
I go to the length of writing this blog not to complain about the lack of support in the Camargue but to express my wish and hope that more and more scientists and NGOs try to see nature photographers not as an unwelcome nuisance but rather use our skills and help to be more powerful in achieving a common goal: the worldwide protection of wilderness and threatened animals.
Last but not least I would like to thank the owners of the private bird sanctuary at Pont Du Gau for their invaluable help. Without their support it would have been nearly impossible to get good opportunities for portraits and behavioural images of flamingos.
Please note that blogs reflect our photographers' opinions and not necessarily those of the directors of Wild Wonders of Europe.
RSS
Atom
20 Responses to “Theo Allofs – Camargue, France II”
By David on Jul 6, 2009
Very nice place! excelent images Theo, best regards!
By Fair Trade on Jul 6, 2009
Stunning photo’s - thank you.
So sad that such a beautiful place should be carved up with barbed wire and backward thinking.
By Claudia Müller on Jul 6, 2009
Many thanks for this blog!
Great pictures and a important text,
best regards
Claudia Müller
By Rolf Steinmann on Jul 6, 2009
Very interesting blog story!
You are talking about a problem which also wildlife filmmakers have.
But anyway you got very beautiful images!
By Conor on Jul 6, 2009
If you want to take photos of the biggest colony of flamingos, next time go to Fuentepiedra lagoon, Malaga province, Spain. It´s not true that Camargue is the biggest colony of flamingos in Europe. Some years there are more flamingos in Fuentepiedra than in Camargue. There are also some lesser flamingos. The landscape is really nice, and the gastronomy is the best. And there are a lot of terns, raptors, waders, etc.
By Jos De Braekeleer on Jul 7, 2009
I agree with Theo Allofs concern about photographers not being allowed to work in European nature areas. Most nature photographers know how to respect nature when doing their job and not disturbing wildlife while shooting. I visited the Camargue this year and it is indeed a very difficult place to shoot wildlife because of the wetland and of course the barbed wire and other fences. I only got a few images of flamingos shot from inside my car parked along the road. Never the less these are great images !
By Bridget Wijnberg on Jul 7, 2009
I thank you immensely Theo for your honesty in sharing this with us. Your words speak volumes; the images that you succeeded in capturing are utterly breathtaking - I cant imagine what you would have achieved had you been given full support.
By Florian Möllers on Jul 7, 2009
Theo, Welcome to nature photography in Europe, once again! From my own experience I can report that there are several places I have been to where I got great support. It is upon ourselves as photographers to keep proving authorities and scientists wrong. Because, and we should not forget about that, there are MANY black sheep among us that leave soils burnt and bad feelings due to a lack of respect for their subjects and the people they work with.
Anyway, as I have just gone through your whole collection, I can only say: it was worth the trouble. VERY nice stuff! Soon to be seen in a nice gallery… Take care - Florian
By Phidelm on Jul 7, 2009
Yes, Theo - I’d like to second Bridget Wijnberg’s post. These are superb photos (I love the Camargue horses. A hardy breed, they were favoured by crusaders many of whom embarked from Aigues Mortes taking with them these reliable, tough little horses). All very enlightening. I hope you find more sympathetic reception from now on.
By Clay Bolt on Jul 7, 2009
Theo,
You really did do an amazing job; especially when considering all that you were up against. The images are some of the best that I’ve seen from this project. I understand your frustration after having spent the last year photographing protected land that is inaccessible to the general public.
All we can do is continue to reach out to researchers and scientists and build trust amongst one another. Then, perhaps, we can work together more effectively to accomplish our common goals.
Clay
By tai haku on Jul 7, 2009
Theo - the images with this are fabulous but it is sad that you received the response you did. The opportunity to get images like these out into the public consciousness would (whether we like it or not) be far more effective in raising awareness and support for the protection of the area (and hence the scientists work) than a thousand press releases about breeding success and so forth. Its a very shortsighted attitude and I applaud you for using this opportunity to address it.
By Steve Turner on Jul 8, 2009
Theo,
Congratulations on some fine photos and it just goes to show that persistence pays off. However, let me balance up the argument about the research centre at Tour Du Valat. We have always found them very helpful. Moreover, they contacted a range of photographers on our behalf for our website photos, so they certainly don’t have an anti- photographer position. They simply support those who join their cause. They are, after all, researchers, not promoters of the Camargue.
Keep snapping,
Steve Turner
By Catherine Deulofeu on Jul 8, 2009
Theo,
It is superb, as usual. And when we see these pictures, we don’t have the feeling of all the troubles you had there, nor tne wind, nor the badwill of French people (I know very well the theme). Congratulations,
Warm regards
Catehrine
By Arnaud Grizard on Jul 8, 2009
Hello Theo,
though adversity, you have made a great photographic coverage.
Wildlife photographers have an important role to play for conservation, but they first have to prove the commitment of the great majority of us.
I think that a project like the WWoE is a wonderful showcase for wildlife conservation.
Regards
Arnaud
By Jo Bathmann on Jul 16, 2009
First thought: fantastic, the horses just fly right out of the picture – even better, than I could imagine how it should look like – fits perfect to my wall
- This carmague is a must to go !
Second thought: After reading your text –
No – I will not argue with people who don’t want to understand how helpful good pictures can be to support the thought of environment and who don’t want to share the beauty of the nature with other people.
I will not go there !
Third thought: After thinking it over –
It just can’t be it – there has to be done something. But what?
Would it be helpful to write an article to be published in great papers or even TV?
Maybe just send Your text and pictures – also pictures of the barbed wire fences to – I don’t know which magazine or tv-sender.
Keep on fighting -
Jo Bathmann
By Mark Hamblin on Jul 21, 2009
It sounds as though you had a very frustrating time, Theo, yet your image of the flamingos in flight is quite superb. I fully support your comments regarding the need for scientists and nature photographers to collaborate more fully across Europe to help raise awareness and bring important scientific research into the public domain. Well done for speaking out on this.
By Liisa Widstrand on Jul 21, 2009
woow! I love the flying flamingos!
By Nicola Markus on Aug 19, 2009
Hi Theo
fantastic to find your images once again in an accessible on-line spot for all to share. And what a wonderful place the Camargue is to photograph!
I’m sad to read that your experiences with NGOs and other landholders has been less than encouraging at times and share your view that a somewhat misplaced sense of ‘ownership’ of fauna or flora is prohibitive to the conservation goals that are surely paramount. Having worked for conservation NGOs for many years, I don’t see the need for any kind of territoriality provided that due credit is given to all involved.
I have fond memories of working with you to enable you to get some unprecedented images of Australia’s flying foxes at a time when those images were so very necessary to their conservation (and still are).
Keep up the great work and I hope to see you in Australia again soon; still plenty of things to photograph down here!
Warm Regards,
Nicki
By Anna Widstrand on Aug 22, 2009
Dear Theo,
beutiful images from my beloved Camargue - if I had only known you were going there, I would have helped you out with access. I worked for many years in the Camargue as a guide and I know quite a few of the bigger landowners. If you feel that you need to go back, let me know, and let’s see what we can do together!
cheers
Anna
ps
a fan of yours ever since a copy of your Pantanal book landed in my lap - another one of those places where I have worked, and which just GETS to you!
By NatureFootstep on Feb 6, 2010
beautiful! Great to see it as I am about to visit the area on abirding trip in the beginning of May.