Images matter. As people, we need to see ourselves in images relating to the natural environment so we connect with them and see the relevance of them to our lives. The photos we see of natural spaces need to be inclusive, authentic and show people from diverse backgrounds in diverse outdoor spaces. This is also important for connecting people with messages around our big challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss. Experiencing natural spaces in all kinds of ways helps to provide that connection and we know that for some, this is not currently part of their lives.
Natural England commissioned Climate Outreach to speak with conservation organisations, community groups, online influencers and nature enthusiasts to explore how we can diversify the images of people and nature. From this work, a set of six principles is being shared to help guide the production of images that showcase the variety of ways that people can connect with and benefit from nature.
In this short webinar, we’ll present our report and findings and show visual examples while hearing about the practical changes we need to see around nature visuals from both photographers - including Joanne Coates - and Judy Ling Wong CBE, an environmental activist. We will present practical, evidence-based advice and recommendations for developing more inclusive nature visuals. This webinar is for anyone wanting to tell more diverse stories of people and nature, including communications professionals, academics and everyone working in the outdoor and photography sectors.
It’s open to all with no expertise required - so do join us!
SPEAKERS
Judy Ling Wong, CBE
Judy is a painter, poet, environmentalist, and expert advisor on multicultural environmental participation. She is probably best known as the Honorary President of Black Environment Network (BEN). For 27 years she was the UK Director of BEN, with an international reputation as the pioneer and creator of the field of multicultural environmental participation in the built and natural environment. Judy is a major voice on policy and practice towards social inclusion.
She is recognised as a visionary advocate for diversity and equality. She was awarded an OBE for pioneering multicultural environmental participation in 2000, and a CBE for services to heritage in 2007. Recently, she was included in the BBC Power Women List 2021, and the Forbes List of 100 Leading Environmentalists in the UK 2021, Climate Reframe List of 100 best-known UK BAME activists. She was given the Vanity Fair International Women’s Day Challenger Award 2021 and the Earth Day Green Plaque Award 2021. Judy is a regular guest on the Sky News Daily Climate Show.
Her current contribution includes Chair - Green Apprenticeships Advisory Group, supporting the BEIS Green Recovery Taskforce, Member - UKRI Hidden Histories Advisory Group, Member - Weston Communicating Climate Advisory Group. Media Trust, Co-Founder - National Park City Foundation, Member - Living Landscapes Research Steering Group. Royal Society, Member - IUCN/WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group, Member – Aluna Cultural Strategy Development Group, Patron - Population Matters Advisory Group, Patron – CIEEM Chartered Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management, Board member - Botanic Gardens Education Network, Ambassador – Women’s Environmental Network.
Many of Judy's publications and articles can be found in the publications section of the Black Environment Network website: http://www.ben-network.org.uk/resources/publs.aspx
Joanne Coates
Joanne Coates is a working class documentary storyteller who uses the medium of photography. Based in the North of England. She is interested in modes of production, rurality, working life and class inequality. Born in the rural North of England, educated first in working class communities, then at The Sir John Cass School of Fine art (Fda Fine Art) and The London College of Communication (Ba Hons Photography). Her practice is as much about process, participation and working with communities. Coates’ key themes are Northern culture in rural places and working class life.
In 2020 she was commissioned as Artist in Residence at Berwick Visual Art and Centre for rural economy and Berwick Visual Arts. In 2021 she was commissioned as an artist working on the Tees-Swale project looking at social justice and the rural. In 2021 Coates is a joint awardee of the Jerwood / Photoworks prize. She works with various arts organisations to look at themes of class, inequalities, social justice, rurality and community cohesion. This can be seen in commissions working with Middlesbrough Mela, and Hull City of Culture. She is Director of the Arts organisation Lens Think with the aims of fighting for class equality and more creative industries through participation and radical community arts. The organisation works with schools, and provides mentorships to 3 artists per year.
Joanne’s work has been exhibited both in the UK and internationally in venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Reveal-T Photography Festival, Cork Photo Festival and Somerset House. In 2012 during her Foundation year she was awarded a Metro Imaging Portfolio Prize, a Magnum Portfolio Review and The Ideastap innovators award. Upon graduation she was awarded Magenta Flash Forward Top 30 emerging talent in the UK, 2016. Joanne was one of the artists working in Hull, for the UK City of Culture in 2017. She was one of the 209 female photographers to photograph MPs for the centenary of the vote. She is a member of Women Photograph. (https://www.womenphotograph.com/) and a co-founder of Form Collective (https://www.formcollective.co.uk/). Her approach can be seen in commissions for BBC, Vice, The Guardian, The FT, The Telegraph, and more.
Toby Smith
Toby is part employed by Climate Outreach as the Climate Visuals Programme Lead and Media Liaison - with a strategic goal of expanding their presence, influence and impact in the visual economy. Toby was lead author for, and led the team in producing, the Nature Visuals research. He uses an evidence-based approach to catalyse a more compelling, impactful and diverse visual language for climate change.
Toby also works internationally on collaborative, commissioned and personal projects concerning photography, climate change, conservation and the environment. He has over 15 years of experience as an award-winning environmental photographer who focuses on building innovative and global stories through collaboration and publication in leading editorial outlets; and working strategically and contributing to the editorial, academic, research, campaign and creative sectors.
Toby graduated with a Masters in Photography from London College of Communication in 2008 after spending 2 years working across Africa utilising his bachelors degree in Zoology and Environmental Science. He is an Associate Scholar of the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute. He remains a Director of Shoot Unit Ltd, working in a freelance capacity on a select number of professional photography assignments, an advisory, design or public speaking role. Keynote lectures have been delivered at Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication, Cambridge University, New York Climate Week and numerous academic and corporate conferences.
Dr Amiera Sawas
Amiera Sawas joined Climate Outreach in 2021 as Programmes and Research Director. She is responsible for overseeing the programmatic and research implementation of the organisation’s strategy. Amiera is a feminist researcher and advocate with over 15 years experience working on climate change issues in various contexts including the UK, Pakistan, Sweden, Jordan and Kenya. Whether working for NGOs, universities or the private sector, she has put inclusion and participation at the heart of all her work. For several years she worked on challenging exclusionary power dynamics in the climate change policy space, and underscoring the importance of centering the voices and perspectives of those most affected. She has also co-led anti-racism initatives and worked on developing training and materials on decolonial and feminist approaches. Amiera has a PhD in water governance (Human Geography), and a post-doc in climate change and security.