photo: © Joachim Schmeisser, www.immagis.de - Lonely Bull in front of Kilimanjaro
The sixth mass extinction of animal species in history is currently underway. Approximately one hundred fifty animal species disappear from the planet forever every day. The loss of biodiversity on such an unprecedented scale is even more threatening than climate change, because biodiversity is the foundation of our existence—we cannot survive without it.
Joachim Schmeisser’s second photo book, Last of Their Kind, is an ode to some of Africa’s largest and most wondrous creatures, animals that have become dear to him over his many years of work: elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and mountain gorillas. All are extraordinarily fascinating creatures whose continued existence is now under threat.
These are intimate portraits of the beauty of creation and, at the same time, its transience. Last of Their Kind is both a tribute and a warning: a visual message intended to sharpen our clouded view of this unique, infinitely complex, and fragile natural world, and to make us aware of the treasures we are now at risk of losing forever.
Joachim Schmeisser was born in Germany in 1958. He began his career as a professional photographer in the early eighties. He is best known for his exceptionally intimate and moving portraits of some of the most endangered species in Africa. In 2009, he began his major photo series in East Africa, creating an iconic portrait of the orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.
In 2012, Joachim Schmeisser received the prestigious Hasselblad Masters Award for his African Wildlife series. His aim is to reveal the beauty and uniqueness of our planet and raise awareness of an issue that concerns us all. He lives and works in Munich.
Previously published: Elephants in Heaven.
Translation: © Fotografie.nl
Last of Their Kind - Joachim Schmeisser
Pages: 208
Price: € 50,00
Publisher: teNeues
ISBN: 9783961712793
