James Balog shot similar projects to this and published several books. His Animal book was published in 1999.

(http://www.amazon.com/Animal-GRAPHIS/dp/1888001801/ref=sr_1_5/105-5915648-8529221?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187939158&sr=1-5)

Vince Musi had a piece in the Geographic that ran recently.

(http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/animal-minds/musi-photography)

James Molison shot his ape series.
(http://www.jamesmollison.com/project_apes.php)

All of these guys are world class shooters. Joel did a great job. Andrew Zuckerman is also a killer shooter. (I own his books)

I’m not sure why people are pointing this out that others have done similar projects.

Martin Chambi shot amazing portraits of Cuzco citizens on backdrops in his available light studio. Does that diminish the later work by Irving Penn or Richard Avedon just because Mr. Chambli did it first?

(http://www.martinchambi.com/gindex.html)

The most important part of all these photographers projects is to bring our attention to the species that are threatened. All of them have succeeded in doing so.

James Balog did it before Zuckerman as did Richard Avedon with people. I’d say a good majority or working pros have shot against white no-seam to isolate a subject. Zuckerman is very good at what he does. He is not the first and not the last to approach a subject this way. Joel is doing important work and that should not be diminished by comparisons to other photographers or techniques.

db

And I thought my children were tough to photograph on seamless!

Incredible work

Thanks for also including the touching video piece about Joel’s and his wife’s ordeal with breast cancer; I myself know too many women who’ve waged that gruesome battle.

May we find a cure for cancer, and may we wake up from our years of destructive ‘sleep’ and save as many species as possible from extinction…

No better example of a photographer who shows you can live anywhere you like and pursue a career at the top of your field.