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| Photo by Gary Braasch, Tuvalu Kids |
The headline on a blog post by Andrew Revkin on Dot Earth, New York Times, read "Too
Soon Gone – Gary Braasch, Visual Chronicler of Climate Change". We all lost
a true conservation hero on Monday, March 7. Conservation photographer and
climate change activist Gay Braasch died while snorkeling with a companion near
Lizard Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Those who knew Gary would universally say that he was the
epitome of the dedicated conservationist.
I first met Gary in 1994 at the Roger Tory Petersen Institute in
Jamestown, NY, as a small group of photographers gathered to form what would be
called NANPA - the North American Nature Photography Association. Gary was singularly
committed to ensuring that NANPA kept environmental conservation as one of the
core principles. And to this day, environmental protection remains a NANPA cornerstone.
A decade later, Gary once again was a key figure in the
formation of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).
Gary followed true to form as he asserted himself as an outspoken advocate for
environmental activism through photography.
Gary's most recent endeavors centered on the issue of
climate change as a review of his photography will show. iLCP Photographer Kevin
FItzPatrick and a small group of Gary's friends have proposed that "we pay
tribute the Gary by stepping up and committing ourselves to addressing climate
change." Kevin went on to say, "My first thought after
hearing of Gary’s death was that I wanted his mission to live on! I want
to put $1000 toward a fund that could make this happen." iLCP founder and conservationist Christina
Mittermeier and underwater conservation photographer Paul Nicklen both
committed to donating to the cause and spreading the word. If you are
interested in supporting Kevin's endeavor, please contact him at kevinfp@me.com
or send me an email at mlukes@fineprintimaging.com.
Gary will be sorely missed.
Posted by Mark Lukes,
Fine Print Imaging President
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