We are incredibly fortunate to live on a planet so full of life, beauty, and nature. From the smallest baby insects to the largest trees that are hundreds of years old, nature is truly special. Scientists estimate there are over 8 million species of animals and plants out there, each having a special place on Earth and contributing to the biodiversity and natural cycles that occur all around us.
Few people know this better than Louie Psihoyos. As a photographer and documentary filmmaker, Psihoyos has brought a newfound awareness and understanding of the natural world to millions of people. Winning a slew of awards, he has been able to spread his concern for underwater conservation to the masses.
How It Began
Louis (Louie) Psihoyos was born on April 15, 1975, in the small city of Dubuque, Iowa. As a teenager, he already became interested in photography. Exploring this newfound passion, he began working as a photography intern at the local Telegraph Herald paper.
A few years later, he went to the University of Missouri and unsurprisingly studied photojournalism. After graduating, he was almost immediately hired by the renowned National Geographic magazine.
As many photographers do, Psihoyos had a calling to change the world. As he captured the people and animals of this world, he saw what was going on around him better than most. While one may have heard that 25% of ocean species will be extinct by 2100, Psihoyos explains that he was seeing it with his very own eyes. Thus, he took action.
From The Lens
How do you bring awareness to and help solve a problem as big as preserving the oceans? If you’re Louis Psihoyos, you do it by making compelling documentary films. Psihoyos first co-founded the Ocean Preservation Society, a nonprofit with a mission to preserve marine life and protect the environment, in 2005.
In the subsequent years, several award-winning films were made under his direction. The Cove won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and focuses on horrifying dolphin hunting practices. Racing Extinction brings awareness to the current mass extinction and those doing their best to prevent it. Finally, The Game Changers is a look into the lives of several plant-based elite athletes that brings into question many childhood teachings and scientific understandings of protein.
Making An Impact
In his personal life, Psihoyos stopped eating meat several decades ago and fish a few years later. But his impact goes far beyond his nutritional choices. By co-founding The Ocean Preservation Society (OPS), he has helped reach more than half of humanity. The Cove was seen by over 50 million people, Racing extinction was seen by over 36 million people in the first 24 hours, and a projection event on the Vatican that involved highlighting the beauty of the natural world was seen by over 4.4 billion.
The OPS aims to change the world by highlighting critical issues that the Earth is currently facing. By exposing the truth of what is occurring, they have helped people become educated and take action. They don’t have any plans of stopping either.
Currently, OPS is focused on four specific planetary actions (in no particular order). First, put an end to dolphin and whale hunting in the Faroe Islands. Next, banning single-use plastics for good and holding the makers of these items accountable for the monstrous amount of plastic litter that covers every corner of the world. Next, ending whale and dolphin captivity through the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act. Finally, act on protecting wild sharks by ending the violent shark fishing tournaments that take place in Florida.
Each of these initiatives focuses on different parts of the same problem: we need to protect all life on planet Earth. While Psihoyos and The Ocean Preservation Society have made great progress over the past few decades in preaching sustainability and environmental protection, there is still work to be done.
Key Takeaways
Louie Psihoyos is a photographer and documentary filmmaker who cares deeply about the environment and dedicates his work to bringing awareness to the destruction of nature and the importance of conservation.
He has several award-winning documentary films that focus on ocean conservation, preventing extinction, and sustainable ways of eating and living.
The Ocean Preservation Society, a nonprofit that he co-founded, continues to educate the world and take action against the destruction of our environment.
We are incredibly fortunate to live on a planet so full of life, beauty, and nature. From the smallest baby insects to the largest trees that are hundreds of years old, nature is truly special. Scientists estimate there are over 8 million species of animals and plants out there, each having a special place on Earth and contributing to the biodiversity and natural cycles that occur all around us.
Few people know this better than Louie Psihoyos. As a photographer and documentary filmmaker, Psihoyos has brought a newfound awareness and understanding of the natural world to millions of people. Winning a slew of awards, he has been able to spread his concern for underwater conservation to the masses.
How It Began
Louis (Louie) Psihoyos was born on April 15, 1975, in the small city of Dubuque, Iowa. As a teenager, he already became interested in photography. Exploring this newfound passion, he began working as a photography intern at the local Telegraph Herald paper.
A few years later, he went to the University of Missouri and unsurprisingly studied photojournalism. After graduating, he was almost immediately hired by the renowned National Geographic magazine.
As many photographers do, Psihoyos had a calling to change the world. As he captured the people and animals of this world, he saw what was going on around him better than most. While one may have heard that 25% of ocean species will be extinct by 2100, Psihoyos explains that he was seeing it with his very own eyes. Thus, he took action.
From The Lens
How do you bring awareness to and help solve a problem as big as preserving the oceans? If you’re Louis Psihoyos, you do it by making compelling documentary films. Psihoyos first co-founded the Ocean Preservation Society, a nonprofit with a mission to preserve marine life and protect the environment, in 2005.
In the subsequent years, several award-winning films were made under his direction. The Cove won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and focuses on horrifying dolphin hunting practices. Racing Extinction brings awareness to the current mass extinction and those doing their best to prevent it. Finally, The Game Changers is a look into the lives of several plant-based elite athletes that brings into question many childhood teachings and scientific understandings of protein.
Making An Impact
In his personal life, Psihoyos stopped eating meat several decades ago and fish a few years later. But his impact goes far beyond his nutritional choices. By co-founding The Ocean Preservation Society (OPS), he has helped reach more than half of humanity. The Cove was seen by over 50 million people, Racing extinction was seen by over 36 million people in the first 24 hours, and a projection event on the Vatican that involved highlighting the beauty of the natural world was seen by over 4.4 billion.
The OPS aims to change the world by highlighting critical issues that the Earth is currently facing. By exposing the truth of what is occurring, they have helped people become educated and take action. They don’t have any plans of stopping either.
Currently, OPS is focused on four specific planetary actions (in no particular order). First, put an end to dolphin and whale hunting in the Faroe Islands. Next, banning single-use plastics for good and holding the makers of these items accountable for the monstrous amount of plastic litter that covers every corner of the world. Next, ending whale and dolphin captivity through the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act. Finally, act on protecting wild sharks by ending the violent shark fishing tournaments that take place in Florida.
Each of these initiatives focuses on different parts of the same problem: we need to protect all life on planet Earth. While Psihoyos and The Ocean Preservation Society have made great progress over the past few decades in preaching sustainability and environmental protection, there is still work to be done.
Key Takeaways
Louie Psihoyos is a photographer and documentary filmmaker who cares deeply about the environment and dedicates his work to bringing awareness to the destruction of nature and the importance of conservation.
He has several award-winning documentary films that focus on ocean conservation, preventing extinction, and sustainable ways of eating and living.
The Ocean Preservation Society, a nonprofit that he co-founded, continues to educate the world and take action against the destruction of our environment.
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