How can you care about happenings in places you’ve never seen? The reason polar bears are so captivating in the public’s global warming imagination is that though many of us have never seen one in its natural environment, after one glimpse of a white furry giant lollygagging around the ice on camera, how could we not care that melting habitat is threatening their very existence?

A whole group of nature and outdoor photographers who are part of the International League of Conservation Photographers believe capturing scenes like that on camera are key to raising planetary awareness. “Awe-inspiring photography is a powerful force,” helping “replace environmental indifference with a new culture of stewardship and passion for our beautiful planet.”

Just think, Yellowstone, the first national park in the world was created thanks in large part to the watercolors of Thomas Moran.

Ian Shive of Los Angeles is one such conservation photographer, but he didn’t start out that way. He was just the son of a classic rock band lensman who, even after swearing off the family practice, couldn’t help snapping the world around him when faced with the unfamiliar beauty of Montana’s landscape while in college there.

What was first a personal experience, taking meaningful pictures of the great outdoors, became something Shive wanted to share. And upon sharing it, he realized his work’s potential for connecting viewers to the wider world and to the way we are all indeed connected to that world, whether it’s the grandest sweeping valley, the tiniest droplets on a spider web or the funkiest jelly-like creature under the sea .

Want to see for yourself? Some of Shive’s exquisite photographs will be on display in the Artists’ Lounge at this year’s 24th annual Abbot Kinney Festival – look for the green lifestyle section, called”Connected” (you’ll find ydt there, too). Or if you can’t make the festival, you can view his work on-line here.

Tags: Abbot Kinney Festival, ian shive, league of conservation photographers, nature photography