Sometimes we get asked, “Why do you take photos of World Heritage sites. How does that help with their conservation and preservation?”
Our Answer is simple. If people aren’t aware of the world’s heritage, then how can they begin to care for it? You can’t like or respect places that you don’t know about. There are some World Heritage sites which are well known globally and people are made aware of any issues facing them by the world’s general media. But most sites on the WH list are relatively unknown – particularly outside the country or region where they are located.
This is where inspirational photography comes in. Photographs speak directly and succinctly to their viewers across diverse languages and cultural divides. As well as introducing a basic awareness of a particular location, general cross cultural understanding and acceptance can be awoken and reinforced through the universal appreciation of inspiring photography.
If you can be inspired by the look of a particular country’s cultural and natural locations, you might also begin to accept the pride that the citizens of that country feel for them.
Photographs can capture the essence the great places that we all share as part of our collective human legacy. What we know about, we can then celebrate and respect.
Awakening this understanding is what we hope that the Our Place World Heritage Collection can contribute to the UNESCO World Heritage initiative...
Geoff Steven OUR PLACE
As always we appreciate your feedback and correspondence.
Below: The OUR PLACE 50 Photo Billboard Exhibition is still on display outside the UNESCO HQ building in Paris. See it before it travels to a new location.
