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Brent Stirton's Image
The pieces in this Filipino man’s collection are carved from pre-ban ivory allegedly.
The man belongs to an emerging group of wealthy, devout collectors in the Philippines, who search out and commission new carved work. The patronage and obsession of such wealthy collectors sustains the illegal ivory trade, threatening elephant populations worldwide. The harder it is to come by, the greater the value of ivory, and the demand accelerates – a divine investment.
Behind the lens
Brent Stirton
South Africa
Brent is a Senior Correspondent for Getty Images. He does most of his work for National Geographic Magazine, focusing on the intersection of humans and the environment.
Image details
- Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
- 35mm f1.4 lens at 35mm
- 1 sec at f20
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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