‘The New Big 5’: Wildlife photography book turns the lens on animals at risk | CNN

Graeme Green's latest project, "The New Big Five," is a stunning photography book that challenges traditional notions of wildlife conservation. Originally used to refer to Africa's most iconic and elusive animals – lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos – the term has been reimagined by British photographer Graeme Green as a global call to action for endangered species.

The project began with a simple yet profound idea: "shoot with a camera, not a gun." In 2021, Green asked 50,000 people worldwide to vote for their top five animals they'd love to photograph in the wild. The resulting list of winners – elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger – serves as a poignant reminder of what we stand to lose if we fail to act.

The book, featuring images by renowned wildlife photographers like Ami Vitale, Steve McCurry, and Paul Nicklen, alongside essays from conservationists Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu, is a powerful tool in the fight against extinction. With over 144 contributors, each image tells a story of struggle, resilience, and hope.

Green's vision is not just to showcase stunning photographs but also to inspire people to take action. By highlighting the alarming threat climate change poses to countless species beyond the "New Big Five," he underscores the urgent need for collective responsibility. The book serves as a wake-up call, prompting readers to consider the consequences of their actions and the world we want to leave behind.

As Jane Goodall notes in the book's afterword, "we have a window of time during which we can start to heal some of the harm we have inflicted on the natural world." The photographs in "The New Big Five" are a testament to the enduring beauty and majesty of our planet's wildlife. By sharing these images, Green aims to spark a sense of wonder, compassion, and urgency among readers.

Published by Earth Aware Editions, this book is now available for purchase. With its powerful message and stunning visuals, it's an essential read for anyone passionate about conservation, wildlife, or simply the natural world.
 
omg i just got back from the most amazing trip to asia with my bf 🗺️💕 we went to see the elephants in cambodia and OMG they were so gentle and intelligent 🐘😍 it made me realize how much we need to protect these incredible creatures and their habitats we need to do more to stop climate change and deforestation ASAP 💚🌎 my bf's family has a farm and they're already taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint like using solar panels and composting 🌻💡 i feel so inspired to make a difference in my own small way 💖
 
omg u guyz think its just a pretty picture show 😂📸 but seriously ppl need 2 wake up & realize their actions got consequences 🌎🐳 graeme green did good tho by gettin people 2 vote 4 their fave animals & now we got this amazing book 💡 the new big five is more than just a pretty face its like a slap in the face 2 make u think 🤯 climate change is real & if ur not doin somethin bout it 🌪️ so yeah go grab ur copy & spread the word 👀
 
this project is literally giving me chills 🌳💔 i mean, who would've thought that voting for their fave animals could be such a profound idea? it just goes to show how important storytelling and visuals are in raising awareness about wildlife conservation... and yeah, we can't stress enough how climate change is affecting so many species beyond the "new big five"... 🌪️ anyway, this book sounds like an absolute must-read for anyone who cares about the planet - let's get our hands on it ASAP!
 
I'm so moved by Graeme Green's project "The New Big Five" 💕. It's truly inspiring to see how one person can make a difference with just a simple idea 🤩. The fact that he got 50,000 people worldwide to vote for their top animals to photograph in the wild is just amazing 🌎. And the book itself, with all these incredible photographers and conservationists contributing, is like a punch to the gut – it's so powerful 😲. I love how Jane Goodall says we have a chance to "heal some of the harm" we've caused to the natural world... let's do it! 🌟
 
omg i cant even imagine a world without these amazing animals 🐯🦒💥 50k people voting on their fave animals to photo is like whoa thats so cool and inspiring 🤩 i love how graeme green is using photography as a tool to raise awareness about climate change too 🌎 it makes me wanna take action ASAP 💪 this book sounds like an incredible resource for anyone passionate about conservation 📚
 
I think this project is super important 🌎💡 - we need more people speaking out like Graeme Green to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on wildlife. I mean, 50,000 people voting for their top animal to photograph? That's mind-blowing! It just goes to show that even small actions can add up and make a difference. The book is going straight into my shopping basket 🛍️ - can't wait to dive in and be inspired to take action 🌟
 
just saw this project its so inspiring I mean 50k people voting for their fave animals to take pics of in the wild thats like the whole world coming together 🌎💚 Graeme Greens idea is genius we need more ppl using cameras not guns to help conservation 📸💪
 
I think this photography book is so important 🌟. It's like, we're always talking about how cool animals are, but sometimes I feel like we forget that they're real living creatures struggling to survive. Graeme Green's idea of asking 50,000 people to vote for their top five animals to photograph in the wild was genius! I love how it turned into this stunning book with amazing photos and essays from conservationists.

It's crazy to think that climate change is affecting so many species beyond just the "New Big Five" 🌪️. We need more voices like Jane Goodall's, reminding us of the urgency to act. And honestly, I love how the book isn't just about pretty pictures – it's also a call to action 💪.

If you're passionate about conservation or wildlife, this book is a must-read 📚. It'll make you feel all the feels – wonder, compassion, and maybe even a little bit of rage 😤. Either way, it's an essential read for anyone who cares about our planet's future!
 
I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, Graeme Green’s project is seriously inspiring 🌟. The way he got people to vote for their favorite animals they want to photograph in the wild is genius 👏. It's like a call to action, and it's amazing how many people came forward with their top picks. The end result is a book that's not just beautiful pics but also raises awareness about the importance of conservation 🌿.

I think what really gets me is that this project isn’t just about wildlife photography; it’s about sparking change 🔥. Green wants us to see the world in a different light and take responsibility for our actions 💡. It’s a wake-up call, for sure, but I also feel like it's hope – hope that we can make a difference before it's too late 🕰️.

I just wish more people would get on board with this kind of stuff 😔. Like, I know some folks might think conservation is boring or whatever, but trust me, it’s so much more than that 🤗. We need people like Graeme Green to keep pushing boundaries and inspiring others to take action 🌟.
 
I'm so over the whole "save the planet" vibe 🤦‍♂️. I mean, we've been hearing this stuff for years and nothing's really changed, right? It's just a bunch of pretty pictures with some words thrown in to make us feel guilty. What I want to see is actual change – not just a bunch of rich people getting together to take photos 📸. And what's with the "collective responsibility" nonsense? We all know how that's gonna play out... people only care about what affects them directly, and then they just leave it up to someone else to sort it out 🙄.
 
🐠 I'm really impressed by Graeme Green's project "The New Big Five" 🌎 It's amazing how a simple idea to photograph animals instead of hunting them can make such a big impact 📸 The book is not just about beautiful pics, it's also a call to action for us to take responsibility for our planet 🌟 I love how it highlights the struggle and resilience of wildlife, it gives me hope that we can make a difference 🐻💚
 
I THINK THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! 📚🌿 IT'S LIKE, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE SO MANY INCREDIBLE ANIMALS ON EARTH AND YET WE'RE LOSING SO MANY OF THEM DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN ACTIVITY. I MEAN, WHO KNEW TIGERS WERE SUCH A BIG DEAL UNTIL YOU SAW THESE PHOTOS?! 🐯😍 THE IDEA OF VOTING FOR YOUR FAVE ANIMALS IS GENIUS - IT'S LIKE, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO ACT FAST. I FEEL SO INSPIRED AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS AND THEIR STORIES. WE HAVE A WINDOW OF TIME AS JANE GOODALL SAID AND WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! 🌟
 
🌳💡 I think "The New Big Five" is a game-changer in the fight against extinction 🌟. The fact that 50,000 people from around the world came together to vote for their top animal species to photograph is mind-blowing 🤯. It highlights our collective responsibility towards wildlife and the importance of conservation efforts on a global scale 🌎.

What I love about this project is its emphasis on storytelling through photography and essays 📚. The book's diverse contributors, including Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu, bring a wealth of expertise and passion to the table 💪. By sharing these stories, Graeme Green inspires us to take action and consider the consequences of our actions 🌟.

This book is more than just a pretty picture – it's a wake-up call to think critically about our relationship with nature 🚨. I'm excited to see how "The New Big Five" will spark conversations, inspire new conservation efforts, and remind us of the beauty and majesty of our planet's wildlife 🌸.
 
I gotta say, Graeme Green's project "The New Big Five" is a total game-changer 🤯! It's like, we need to shift our focus from just protecting those iconic African animals to, you know, the entire planet 🌎. I mean, climate change is having a major impact on so many species worldwide, it's not just about lions and elephants anymore 🦁🐘.

I love that Green asked people to vote for their top five animals to photograph in the wild - it's like, we're all part of this global conservation effort 🌟. And with the likes of Jane Goodall and Paula Kahumbu contributing to the book, you know it's gonna be a powerful tool for change 💪.

The thing is, I've seen some ppl saying that Green's project is just about taking pics of animals instead of actually doing something about conservation... but that's not true 🙅‍♂️. The photos are meant to spark action and raise awareness - it's all about inspiring people to care about the world we're leaving behind ❤️.

Anyway, I'm super stoked to see this book out now - if you're passionate about wildlife or conservation at all, you gotta check it out 📚!
 
the way graeme green reimagined the term "new big five" to be a global call to action is super inspiring 🌎📸 i think his project is a game-changer in highlighting the alarming threat of climate change on wildlife and the importance of collective responsibility 💚 it's amazing how one simple idea can bring together so many talented photographers, conservationists, and contributors to create something as powerful as this book 📚 what i love most about this project is that it's not just about showcasing beautiful images, but also about inspiring people to take action and consider the consequences of their actions 🌟
 
I'm low-key OBSESSED with Graeme Green's new project "The New Big Five" 📸💚 It's like, totally mind-blowing how he took a simple idea of voting and turned it into a book that's literally changing the game for wildlife conservation 🌟 The fact that 50k people got to choose their fave animals to photograph in the wild is genius - I mean who doesn't wanna see those majestic elephants and lions up close? 😍 And with all these incredible photographers and essays, it's like a wake-up call to take action on climate change 🌎💨 The book is literally giving me life and I'm totally buying it ASAP 💸
 
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