The photo above shows the teamwork that is required in the field. I am thankful to my friends in Iran for their help and devastated that two of the people shown in this photo have been in jail for more than a year now, accused of using camera traps for espionage: One of them may face the death penalty.

But camera traps are not spy tools. Houman Jowkar and Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi worked with the government, not against it, and local rangers worked with them in the field. They were not operating in secret. They are patriots dedicated to saving one of Iran’s most powerful natural symbols from extinction. Yet they are on trial now along with six of their colleagues shown together in the photo below.

Please spread word about this injustice by sharing this article and sign the Care2 petition by clicking on this link: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/626/639/055/conservationists-face-death-penalty-in-iran/

If you repost this message on Instagram, here are some handles and hashtags to use:

@hrouhani @jzarif_ir @hope4nature #ConservationIsNotaCrime #Free_Iran_Conservationists #anyhopefornature #hope4nature⁩⁩ #ConservationNeedsCameratraps

We just finished another great workshop and we are pleased to share some of our participants’ images with you.

The above images are made by the participants of my latest workshop, Winter Retreat. This program is focused on editing and developing your images and improving your technical skills through one-on-one sessions in our studio.

Once space has opened up for our Floral Wonderland workshop April 19-21. This hands-on workshop is a wonderful opportunity to play creatively with plants in a world class botanical garden. Write to us at info@lanting.com to register!

Don’t forget to check out our Events for more information on upcoming travel, workshops and online photography courses. You can also sign up for our mailing list to receive event information by email here.

A New Presentation by

Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Two shows: 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM

Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA

Tickets: seymourcenter.brownpapertickets.com

The greatest cat in the Americas—the jaguar—is a symbol for strength, power, and wilderness. Jaguars thrive in the fabled Pantanal of Brazil, but in the Ibera wetlands of Argentina, they have been gone for nearly a century. Now one of the most ambitious wildlife projects in the world is working to bring them back—along with a Noah’s Ark of South American wildlife that was lost in a tragic era of exploitation and overhunting. Far-sighted conservationists Doug and Kris Tompkins had a vision of restoring this landscape to its primeval grandeur, and miraculously, it’s working.

Join us for a new presentation by renowned photographer Frans Lanting and his partner, Chris Eckstrom, in celebration of two wilderness areas in South America—Brazil’s Pantanal and Argentina’s Ibera. Frans and Chris recently returned from a month of travel in this unique part of the world with fresh impressions. They will regale us with their images, stories, and videos about the natural and human history of these spectacular wetlands which are home to the “giants” of South America: the giant anteater, giant otter, rhino-like tapirs, colorful macaws—the largest parrots in the world, endearing capybaras—earth’s largest rodent, and of course, the jaguar—largest cat in the Americas. Frans and Chris will share personal observations and highlight conservation successes here that inspire hope.

Special Note: Please be aware there are two shows, 3 PM and 7 PM. Buy tickets to the show you wish to attend. Tickets are not interchangeable between shows.

Proceeds will benefit the marine science education and conservation programs at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at UCSC’s Long Marine Lab.

Tickets available online:
seymourcenter.brownpapertickets.com
and in person from the Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Seymour Center Members $20 / General Admission $25 / Gold Circle $45

2019 Sponsors
Ocean Sponsors:
David Morrell, Santa Cruz Real Estate-C21
Jo Lynne and Fred Jones

Coastal Sponsors:
Bay Photo Lab
Day One Solar
Karon Properties
Santa Cruz County Bank
Shirley and Allen Ginzburg

For more information about the show or how you can become a sponsor, please contact Lauren Donnelly-Crocker at the Seymour Center, 831-459-3800

Frans Lanting honored with first Lifetime Achievement Award

at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year ceremony in London

LONDON, October 17, 2018.  We are pleased to announce that Frans Lanting has been honored with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at a gala ceremony on the evening of October 16, 2018, held at the Natural History Museum in London.

In their announcement of Lanting’s award, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year writes:

This prestigious award has been introduced in recognition of the exceptional contributions made by Frans Lanting to nature photography and wildlife conservation. Over more than three decades, he has set the standards for a whole generation of photographers. His images have been consistently memorable and original, and his signature eye-level perspectives and sophisticated lighting techniques have given rise to a catalogue of timeless photographs.

His assignments for National Geographic led to pioneering work in Madagascar, bringing to light the island’s environmental problems, and in Botswana, focusing international attention on the country’s wildlife and conservation policies. Other major bodies of work have included a first look at the fabled bonobos of the Congo, rainforest ecology in Borneo and the Amazon, the majesty and plight of the world’s albatrosses, the nearly extinct Asiatic cheetahs in Iran, a year-long odyssey assessing global biodiversity at the turn of the millennium, and a remarkable study of chimpanzees in Senegal that is shedding new light on human evolution.

One of his biggest undertakings has been The LIFE Project, a seven-year quest to interpret the story of life on Earth. The project led to a book, LIFE: A Journey Through Time, an exhibition, and a multimedia symphony featuring Lanting’s images and the music of Philip Glass.

Frans Lanting is undoubtedly one of the great nature photographers of our time. Through his numerous publications, exhibitions, public appearances, and active support of environmental organizations, Lanting uses photography to help create leverage for conservation efforts ranging from local initiatives to global campaigns—and to inspire a sense of wonder and concern about our living planet.

The many honours he has received include the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award, a Fellowship to the Royal Photographic Society, Sweden’s Lennart Nilsson Award, and The Netherlands’ highest conservation honour, the Royal Order of the Golden Ark.

Frans Lanting says of his work, “Photography was once an excuse for me to seek out animals on their own ground: I sought a personal connection. But now there is an equally important social component to what I do. I hope my experiences can be a bridge between the animal world and the millions of people who will never crouch before an elephant or hunt with lions in the African night. What my eyes search for is not just the beauty often pursued by photographers. The perfection I seek in my images is a means to show the strength and dignity of animals in nature. My life’s work is my tribute to them, and to preserving the unity of life on earth.”

In celebration of this award, Frans Lanting will share a selection of his most famous images on social media, with calls to action to support the individuals and organizations who are working to protect wildlife and wild places in order to secure a future for all life on earth.

Bonobos are the least known of all the great apes and eerily close to us. When one looks you in the eyes like this male did, the boundaries between us and them become blurry. I’m back in the Congo to explore the world of bonobos. We are joined for this exciting expedition by Ashley Judd who is just as keen as Chris Eckstrom and I are to elevate the profile of bonobos and to support the people who care about them. This is among one of my favorite new images I made at Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary. There will be more images to come after we return from the heart of the Congo. Stay tuned!

Baby bonobos are transported to the Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary as traumatized orphans when their mothers are killed by poachers for bush meat. The infant bonobos cling to their dead mothers until they are removed and eventually sold for the pet trade—babies are too small to be valuable for meat.

Lola ya Bonobo has an astonishing team of bonobo “mamas” who act as substitute mothers to the orphan babies. They nurture them like their own children and slowly rebuild their psychological strength. As infants, the baby bonobos become firmly attached to their adopted mamas, and will only trust people who are trusted by their mamas.

I was privileged to spend time in the past few days with three remarkable bonobo mamas and their orphan babies, and my heart melted when one young bonobo, Bikoro, gave me his trust and crawled up into my arms. The emotion I felt is indescribable.

We encourage you to lend your support to the people who are working to secure a future for bonobos in the wild—it’s a big challenge, but it’s possible.

Follow us on Instagram.com @FransLanting and @ChristineEckstrom as we embark on an expedition with @Ashley_Judd to document bonobos in the wild in the heart of the Congo—their only home in the world.

I am delighted to share Holland Herald’s April 2018 publication with you, where I was featured in their cover story. In preparation, I was interviewed about the history of my relationship with nature and photography, my career and the work that Chris Eckstrom and I do together. My photograph of a Black-throated mango male hummingbird in flight was published on the cover. You can read the full article on Holland Herald’s website here.