Emmy nominated director, award-winning National Geographic photographer and marine conservationist, Andy Mann uses his breathtaking images to help tell the story of our rapidly-changing planet. Andy's imagery is memorable, reminding us how the emotion of an image can touch our spirits.
As part of Photographers Without Borders (PWB) ongoing “Storytelling for Change” webinar series, Andy joined PWB founder Dani Da Silva for a conversation. They discussed Andy’s circuitous journey to becoming a conservation storyteller, taking stunning yet risky photos, his dreams for the world and how music influences his storytelling.
Da Silva: How did your journey into conservation storytelling begin?
Mann: It began growing up in rural Virginia and being on the water every day. My grandfather was a crab fisherman in the Chesapeake Bay. As a kid, I was fascinated with marine life and sharks. It seems there was definitely some seed, or something embedded in me, that drove me this way. I just have a love for the wild.
My journey to being a conservation storyteller has been a long crooked road. I moved to Colorado after I studied fisheries management in college. I then moved back to Virginia and worked in the department of game and fisheries doing fisheries work. I loved it because I was a technician and made eight bucks an hour. But I was on the water every day. I realized if I wanted to be a marine biologist or get a PhD, you don't have the same access. You're usually chained to a desk and in some sort of institution at that point.
I moved to Boulder, Colorado with my college roommates and fell in love with rock climbing, It became this thing that took me and led me to a camera. My goal was to rock climb as much as I could in my 20s, and I'd seen photographers do that on trips. Then I started learning how to use a camera, which led me into the doors of National Geographic adventure expedition—and then into marine conservation.
Da Silva: This is such a beautiful image. What do you think the impact of this image is?
Images by Andy Mann
Mann: I think people initially think, “Oh my God, you were so close to an alligator that didn't want to bite you?” And I think that's great, because that's an element of humanity within the image that someone relates to. They put themselves there for a moment. We need to be able to imagine ourselves living in harmony with wildlife and a healthy planet. We need to envision ourselves there.
Da Silva: It's interesting when we think about the vision that we have for the world. What is your vision of the world?
Mann: In my mind, it's a total dreamscape! We can build a beautiful planet. Some of the biggest buildings in the world now are sustainable, beautiful and in harmony with nature. So my vision for the planet is a place swimming with amazing animals that also has a healthy and vibrant human population.
Image by Andy Mann
Da Silva: What is the most important teaching that you've ever received that you want to share with all of us?
Mann: It's about paying attention to the edges of a story. But the best tidbits I get about being a storyteller come from music. A story is so much like music—a great song strives to be a good story, and a good story strives to be a great song.
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