Sharjah24: “Some of the finest collections of wildlife species are found right here in the UAE,” said multi-award-winning American photographer Joel Sartore, who has photographed animals in the UAE for his ambitious Photo Ark project, an initiative that aims to document all species living in captivity around the globe.

Speaking at the sixth Xposure International Photography Festival at Expo Centre Sharjah at a session titled, ‘Building the Photo Ark’, the National Geographic Fellow discussed how his mission to show a world worth saving stemmed from the goal of making tangible efforts to “move the needle on conservation”.

Sartore explained that every picture he takes is aimed at getting readers interested and engaged in the move to save wildlife. He said: "Every time I take a portrait, of a small creature or large, the intention is to get the viewer become more involved with what's happening in our world."

In his decades-long career, Sartore has published more than 35 stories on National Geographic -- risking life and limb so that readers can get a better understanding of wildlife and fauna in different parts of the world. He said: "There has never been a better time to be a conservationist than now. We live in the age of information where key tools like the internet enable us to reach a global audience immediately. Getting people to care about endangered wildlife is just the first step in the long journey towards conservation and protection.”

“The future of life on earth is at stake, and we must do more,” he urged the audience.
 
To date, Sartore's Photo Ark project has shot over 12,000 of the 25,000 species in captivity and has taken him around the globe, visiting zoos, wildlife reserves and rescue centres. The milestone 12,000th image was shot in the UAE, he told the audience.

The studio portraits he has shot – many of which are endangered or facing extinction, have been exhibited in museums, zoos, and exhibition halls around the world. His animal portraits range from the smallest to the largest, including the Florida grasshopper sparrow and the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Set against a white background, the portraits allow viewers to observe their beauty and colour without the distraction of a colourful background. 

"I am inspired by the people I meet, who have made it their mission to save native species bound for extinction,” said Sartore. “I want the pictures to work and show the way forward. This is why all Photo Ark images are free to use to create a greater awareness of the need to preserve and protect wildlife.” 

“I am convinced that humans have a great capacity to care; and so, I never give up hope,” concluded Sartore.