Bruce Barcott of National Geographic seemed to best introduce the muses of this Paul Nicklen photographer by saying, "In a moss-draped rain forest in British Columbia, towering red cedars live a thousand years, and black bears are born with white fur."
At first glance, I have to admit I thought these amazing photographs by Paul Nicklen must have been digitally modified to change a black bear's color to striking white. Upon reading more about the work of Paul Nickeln it became clear that these spectacular portraits of white bears in a British Columbian forest were an intimate look at a relatively rare species of bears, known as the 'Kermode' or 'spirit bears.'
Implications - Photographers tend to take their viewers on intimate journeys to faraway places or unusual sites. Just as photographers like Paul Nicken are able to do this, companies should consider ways to incorporate their products into spectacular backdrops in order to give them a more exotic aura.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Rare Species Photography
- Exploring rare species through photography presents opportunities for companies to tie their products to exotic backdrops.
- Conservation Tourism
- Conservation tourism focused on rare species, such as the Kermode bear, presents opportunities for companies to offer unique and environmentally friendly travel experiences.
- Eco-friendly Products
- As companies raise awareness of rare and protected species, their focus on eco-friendly products increases and presents new opportunities in product development.
Where This Applies
- Tourism
- As interest in rare species grows, tourism industries have a chance to create unique conservational travel experiences.
- Photography
- Rare species photography provides an opportunity for photographers and companies to produce stunning imagery of niche wildlife.
- Environmental Protection
- The focus on rare and protected species provides opportunities for environmental protection agencies and companies to develop eco-friendly products and initiatives.
