Wildlife / Animals nominee

In the forests of Central Africa, in the shadows of the volcanoes lives an impressive figure. He walks with his fists as he cuts through the thick foliage. He moves forcefully but quietly. Always marching forward, paving a path for his troop. When challenged, he stands on his legs, flashes his sharp teeth, and beats his chest. When the challenge subsides, he keeps to himself. He eats, he rests, he observes. He calls to his family when they wander too far. He embraces his young and cares for those around him. There is a softness to his rugged eyes that shows far too much awareness for him to be called a beast. He is powerful yet poised.

He is a leader.

In conversations with the park warden in Rwanda, I expressed a desire to photograph the silverbacks to showcase both the stature of the animals and the landscape in which they live. I could not have walked away with any of my images without the incredible help of the individuals who helped bring my vision to life. For the warden, my guides, trackers, and porters in Rwanda, and of course for these magnificent animals, I will always be grateful.

Eric Kanigan is a Canadian-American photographer and storyteller who is driven to visit remote corners of the globe to highlight commonalities where others might initially perceive differences.

A degree in Biology solidified his affinity for wildlife and the natural world. However, it was a specific focus in ecology that left the largest impression. The core premise that organisms and species are intertwined, no matter how disparate in form and function, inspires much of his work today.

Eric brings his audience with him above and below the surface to bear witness to some of the world’s most striking scenes and beings. He seeks images with the intent to bring them to life as physical prints—a permanence and longevity he creates with the finished piece, but more importantly, wants to observe in the subjects through conservation and action. Through his artwork and writing, Eric ventures beyond a simple image—not to lecture, but to inspire individuals to develop their own thoughts on the environmental, social, and ethical questions that we face today.

He hopes that others might recognize some of themselves in the people and the animals with whom we are fortunate to share our planet.