WHERE PHOTOGRAPHY MEETS CONSERVATION

For wildlife photographer and conservationist Griet van Malderen, the camera is not only an artistic tool but a way to give endangered animals a voice. Speaking to Griet, it quickly becomes evident that every frame she captures focuses more on urgency than on aesthetics.

Beyond beauty
People often ask me what it feels like to stand so close to lions on the beach or to watch an elephant with tusks sweeping the ground pass silently through the forest. They see the images, but what lies behind them is far greater than a picture. Photography, for me, has never been solely about capturing beauty, but about telling a story, one that urgently needs to be heard.

My journey with a camera began years ago on safari in Africa. At first, I was struck by the elegance of wildlife: the arc of a tusk, the stillness of a leopard on a branch, the fragility of giraffes moving through endless dust. But as I explored further, I realised the truth behind the beauty. The spaces for these animals are shrinking. Fences block ancient migratory routes, cattle graze where wild herds once roamed, and tourism often neglects the fact that admiration without distance can become intrusion.

Patience and philosophy
This is why I photograph: not to gather images, but to raise awareness. My work focuses on conservation because I believe art carries responsibility. When I look through the lens, I’m not just seeking the right light or composition; I ask myself, what story will this image tell?

Behind every photograph lies patience. Hours in silence, days tracking animals, months returning to the same landscapes. Some of my most meaningful encounters happened when I simply let the animals come to me, when I gave them the space to choose. That patience isn’t just a technique; it’s a philosophy. Step back, and nature reveals its raw and genuine self.

Resilience and fragility
One of the most transformative experiences in my career has been documenting Namibia’s desert lions. Against all odds, these lions have adapted to the harshest conditions, even learning to hunt seals along the Skeleton Coast. Their story is one of resilience as well as fragility. Only about 70 remain, and their survival relies entirely on the space we provide.

Standing on those desolate beaches, watching Gamma, a young lioness who rediscovered the skill of seal hunting, I realised that photography can carry a responsibility well beyond aesthetics. Her story, and those of her kin, must be shared if they are to survive.

When I photograph these animals, be it lions or elephants, it is not only with awe but also with a sense of urgency. The question I pose to the viewer is simple: Do you want this image to be a memory or a legacy?

Science and art together
Behind the scenes, my work demands more than endurance in the field. It requires collaboration with researchers, rangers, and conservationists who dedicate their lives to protecting wildlife. I have walked with the Tsavo Trust, followed desert lions alongside Philip Stander, and seen firsthand the considerable effort required to safeguard these species. Their science and my art are two sides of the same coin: both aim to ensure these animals continue to exist.

A voice for the wild
Wildlife photography has given me a voice. But with that voice comes responsibility. Images must not only inspire but also remind us of our role. The wild can recover; it is resilient beyond imagination – but only if we give it the respect and space it needs.

Ultimately, the true story is not about me as a photographer. It is about the animals who still walk this earth, and about the choices we make today to ensure they will be here tomorrow. Behind the lens, behind every frame, that is the message I carry.

JEANETTE WICHMANN

Read more: www.grietvanmalderen.com