I like to photograph things that people don't see, or can't, or won't see. I think the job of the photographer is to reveal.
-Philip Jessup
Coastal and inland wetlands are among the most valuable—and imperiled—ecosystems on the planet. They soak up and store huge amounts of atmospheric carbon in their roots and soils and offer a multitude of other societal benefits, like flood control and migratory bird habitat. They are realms of the spirit to indigenous peoples. By saving them, we can save ourselves.
This exhibit of five Canada’s wetland systems is part of a larger international survey of important wetlands which showcases their beauty, variety and complexity. The photographer has partnered with local governments and environmental NGOs to show what determined conservation can yield as well as to raise funds for these efforts.
This exhibit features images from five important wetland systems across Canada, including the Ramsar Convention designated Fraser River Delta, B.C.; Minesing Wetlands, Ontario; and Grand Codory Estuary, Newfoundland and Labrador. Toronto’s Leslie Street Spit and the Lower Oxtongue River Delta in Ontario are also included as exemplary case studies of wetland creation and conservation.
An environmental leader most of his life, the photographer's 15-year body of work addresses the impact of climate change on wilderness landscapes and the villages that rely on them, including Pacific atolls and the Arctic. His images have been exhibited across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., including the V&A Museum in London.
Learn more about Philip and his work on his website.