At the Infocus nature and photography fest, that concluded recently in Bengaluru, a number of renowned conservationists, photographers and ecologists from across the globe deliberated on topics related to nature conservation.
The keynote address was delivered by Trevor Frost — a photographer, filmmaker, and a National Geographic Explorer and grantee. He completed his first feature story, The Grass Eating Monkeys of Ethiopia, for the National Geographic Magazine when he was 29.
With support from the National Geographic Society, Trevor is currently working on a long-term photo essay about crocodiles, people and how their lives intertwine in Northern Australia.
Talking about his experiences, Trevor says, “I get asked a lot on social media platforms by young photographers and writers about the roadmap to working with a publication like National Geographic. There is no application process and no roadmap as such, unlike in professions like a doctor, where you can get a degree and start practising. It is always a tough question to answer. It is fun at times, but it comes with its own set of challenges. I get back to most of the serious applicants, with a photograph of me that was clicked in Borneo, minutes after being attacked by an army of red ants. It was painful and we were miles away from the nearest medical station. These are aspects of being a wildlife photographer that many people do not see. It is important to be passionate about your work and make a change.”
He adds, “In Borneo, I was with another photographer working on a story on Orangutans, developing some semblance of a culture. For instance, while a group of Orangutans in Borneo would eat the seeds of a fruit by using their hands, in Sumatra, the orangutans would eat the same seeds by using wood to pick it out. That was amazing. It is important to have a good story to tell.”
His current project involves working with crocodiles in Northern Australia. “It is one of the most successful conservation projects in the world. From being reduced to about 4,000 in the 1950’s, the population of salt water crocodiles has gone up to more than 200,000.”
He explains, “The authorities have achieved this by getting the local community involved. They are given permits to hunt the crocodiles occasionally and rear them in farms. This ensures that the local community gains with an increase in population. Of course, killing an animal is not right. However, it is different from hunting. I was part of a hunt that lasted almost two hours, with the crocodile fighting tremendously. I would never use crocodile products, but do understand the need for using these techniques to aid in the conservation of these majestic beasts.”