GALAPAGOS B/W

Artist statement

For some time now, I contemplated doing a series of photographs of the Galapagos Islands. My difficulty was finding a unique perspective in which to present this wonderful archipelago. There are many books and photographs cataloging the unique wildlife species that exist only in the Galapagos: the marine iguanas, the flightless cormorant and the blue footed boobies. But in my many trips to the Galapagos, I became fascinated with the landscape itself, the raw beauty and almost surreal surroundings that these animals call home. I chose black and white as the medium to avoid the distraction that colors can bring, and to focus the viewer's perspective on the shapes and textures of the plant life, the rock formations and the sky. Of course, the wildlife and occasional tourist find there way into my photographs because they are intrinsic to this ecosystem and become part of the surroundings and the interrelationship between the animals, humans and the physical landscape as part of the underlying theme. The Galapagos is a harsh and unforgiving environment that at the same time forms a paradise for many species of birds and wildlife; it is this seeming contradiction that forms the body of my work.

To achieve the desired effect, some of the photographs were taken using an infrared camera; the rest were done with ordinary cameras and black and white settings. The photographs were taken during different seasons and during different trips as it is difficult photographing many parts of the Galapagos due to the restrictions the National Park places on visitors in order to preserve this wonderful site.

Fernando Espinosa Chauvin
March 2011