Going to the beaches as a child and becoming aware of environmental concerns led 17-year-old photographer Ganden Medved-Po to publish a book of photographs focusing on the ocean.
“As my perspective matured, I saw the world change. And I was exposed to life behind the facade of beauty. The damage to the ocean and nature we face is due to climate change and unethical practices, ”said Medved-Po, who started taking pictures with the device. photo of her parents, during the online book launch via Zoom on September 18. “Understanding the interconnections between my world and nature, fueled by the passion to make change, to protect it, it all had to start with my own personal action. “
The young photographer is the son of Christopher Po, president of Century Pacific Food, Inc., and Nanette Medved-Po, founder and president of HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange. Apart from his responsibilities as a high school student, Mr. Medved-Po is also a member of the National Youth Council of WWF-Philippines, whose members, aged 16 to 24, participate in programs aimed at protecting the youth. ‘environment.
A joint project with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – Philippines, the book by M. Medved-Po, Life under water is a compilation of photos he took of picturesque seascapes and surreal marine life. The cover shows a marine butterfly.
“I started working with WWF and that eventually led me to join the National Youth Council. My work with WWF offers many wonderful opportunities, including the Life under water book, ”Medved-Po said at the book launch.
“Life under water is a young person’s ocean experience, expressed through the art he has chosen to photograph. The book is a reminder of why, what, how and for whom we do our job of protecting our oceans, ”said Katherine P. Custodio, Executive Director of WWF-Philippines.
Mr. Medved-Po took the photographs in Anilao, Batangas and Palawan, under the mentorship of diver and underwater photographer Scott “Gutsy” Tuason.
“My mentorship with [Ganden] started when he was in his teens, when he first came to [my diving gear] store. I don’t get a lot of people in the store his age looking for underwater cameras, so it was really refreshing to have Ganden with his mom, ”Mr. Tuason said.
“The experiences are more raw underwater. What you see in documentaries and what you read will give you a second hand experience but that’s not the real thing. When you’re underwater with everything you feel the real connection to nature, and I think that was one of the strongest aspects about it. “
All proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the sustainable fishing work of the World Wildlife Fund – Philippines.
Life under water will be available at the end of October on the WWF-Philippines website (https://wwf.org.ph/). – Michelle Anne P. Soliman
