Pro advice

Founder of Urth, CHRISTIAN GIBSON, on managing your environmental impact

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION THAT MADE YOU WANT TO CREATE URTH?

I wanted to create a business that combined my passion for photography and the environment. I started Urth myself, working from a library in Melbourne, designing the products and establishing the sales channels. Six months after starting Urth, I left on a two-year road trip through Latin America with my friend Chris, who later became my business partner. On that trip, we photographed every day, engaging with local communities and visiting remote locations whilst living in our van. This trip solidified Urth’s roots in photography and our passion for using creativity as a tool for conservation.

WHAT MAKES URTH PRODUCTS DIFFERENT AND HOW DO YOU FEEL THEY SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER MANUFACTURERS?

Urth differentiates itself through an obsessive attention to detail. We thoroughly consider every aspect of the product, from the function and form of the physical product and how it makes you feel when using it, to the impact it has on the planet. It’s relatively easy to make a product that meets a minimal requirement. It’s much more difficult to make a product that is beautiful, has an intuitive and enjoyable user experience and leaves a net positive impact on the planet.

TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE MAIN WAYS IN WHICH PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT AS PART OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY WORK?

Firstly, you should be conscious of the amount of gear you have. Cameras, lenses and other camera equipment can be carbonintensive to produce, so only buy and own what you need. I am often surprised at how much gear some photographers have, a lot of it probably sits around gathering dust for most of the year. Secondly, travelling is often part of the job, which is amazing as you get to see beautiful parts of the planet, but consider offsetting flight emissions and strategically planning routes and projects to reduce unnecessary travel.

DO YOU FEEL PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM THAT CAN BRING ABOUT AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHALLENGES?

Definitely. Everyone is fully aware of the climate challenges our planet faces. We know this through the images and videos we see on the internet and TV, and sparingly through lived experiences. It’s critical to document climate change and climate challenges so that there is awareness at the global level of what is happening. Science is what drives the facts and the data, but images touch people’s hearts and drive them to action.