Award-winning photographer Daniel Beltrá talks to ePHOTOzine

After receiving the Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) prize at the Sony World Photography awards. Spanish born photographer, Daniel Beltrá went on a trip to document three major rainforests of the world. His journey took him to Indonesia, The Congo and finally, to the Amazon.

"I was very excited," said Daniel. "It was a big responsibility but now I've finished I'm happy with the images that I have produced."

Manaus, Amazonas State (Brazil). Aerial view of the Anavilhanas Archipelago on the Rio Negro near Manaus.

Visiting the Amazon isn't a new experience for Daniel – he's worked extensively with Greenpeace since 1990 and has worked in the Amazon every year since 2001. His love for conservation and the belief that environmental issues need to be documented came hand-in-hand with photography. For a long time he worked as a photojournalist but at the same time was studying biology at University where he was involved in conservation movements so working as a conservation photographer was really a natural outcome for Daniel. The project with Sony wasn't really that different to anything he's done before. He's always believed in documenting the rainforest in ways the world can learn that they really do need saving. Several months in the world's rainforests was something he always believed he could do but it was the time restraints he thought he may struggle with. He may have set out with the idea of spending three weeks in each country but when you take off travelling time (from his home in the USA to the heart of Borneo can take a week), and the time it takes to sort visas out, the time slowly slips away.

"I had so much to cover and very little time to cover it in," explained Daniel.

Man made fire cleared rainforest land south of Mbandaka.

Daniel spends quite a lot of time in the air and this trip was no different. He uses aerial photography to convey a lot of meaning to the public in a simple, and easy to understand way but his work does take him onto the forest floor. The rainforest is a vast and complex place with people and animals and this latest project gave Daniel the chance to document more of this side of it.

"I got more of a chance to work more with tribes or documenting animals and the sheer beauty of the place. I don't have time for this when I'm working with Greenpeace as we are documenting the more pressing things such as logging, expansion of the sawing industry etc."

When he's on the ground, an extra piece of kit Daniel needs is flash as he can't see much without it! It's also useful for macro work as, again, when you're under the canopy you need flash. The rest of his kit usually consists of 3 or 4 cameras, half a dozen lenses, a tripod, a monopod and if it rains, there's nothing quite like a big golf umbrella for shelter. At night, especially when it's very humid, Daniel will put his gear in a a dry bag with silicagel pouches, so all the humidity is absorbed and the cameras and lenses are ready for another day.

A Bonobo swings from the branch of a tree in the Congo Bonobo's Sanctuary.

"Basically I need to find a balance between having the right equipment and having backups as I can't buy anything when I'm out there. But I also don't want to be carrying a lot. It's not like a National Geographic expedition, I can't bring 20 cases and stay in one area and not move a lot. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I have help from local drivers or guides but this is not always the case."

Amazon Horned Frog in the Cristalino State Park, Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso (Brazil).

Daniel hopes his work is making a difference and helping, even if it is only in a little way! He tries, it's what he enjoys and the positive feedback he's received about this project particularly is promising. He believes passionately in preserving the rainforest and even though he's currently working on his exhibition, it wont be long until he's back in the forest again.

"I don't know where I am going next but I'm sure I'll be back, doing the job I've done for so many years, in the Amazon and covering the issues that are important."

North West of Mato Grosso State (Brazil), Enawene Nawe village.

The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP), founded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, recognises the global role played by rainforests in climate change and aims to achieve consensus about how the rate of deforestation might be slowed and stopped. There is a growing awareness of the need to urgently protect the world’s rainforests, their people and their resources. The project is working alongside other governmental and non-governmental initiatives to find a solution to deforestation for the rainforests nations, with the aim of making the trees worth more live than they are dead. The project is also working to inform and engage public interest on this subject, collecting mass support to make rainforests central to any future climate change strategy.

In a video message at the awards night in Cannes, HRH The Prince of Wales, said: "Photographic imagery can tell a compelling story about the truth of the situation and, the truth is, if we lose the fight against tropical deforestation, then we lose the fight against climate change."

Emily Young, General Manager, Environmental Communications at Sony Europe added:"This partnership is all about using photography to raise awareness about the importance of climate change. Photography is the perfect way to communicate the fundamental beauty of our environment, and the importance of preserving it for future generations. We are very excited about the outcome of these awards and in aiding the category winner to document some of the major deforestation in the world, and to communicate its impact on overall climate change."
 
Daniel Beltrá's images will be on display in an exhibition on the rainforest which will be opening at Kew Gardens on the 3^rd October 2009.

Cristalino State Park, Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso (Brazil).

Visit Daniel Beltrá's website for more details.

See Daniel Beltrá's assignment videos on ePHOTOzine.tv:

• Daniel Beltrá visits the rainforests of the Congo
• Daniel Beltrá visits the Amazonian rainforest