Presentation
Mathieu LATOUR
France
Photographs
Originally from Île de Ré in France, I have been passionate about wildlife since childhood. I took up photography at the age of seven, driven by the desire to use this art form in support of wildlife conservation. Following my studies at Condé School and IFFCAM, I have worked on a variety of photography and filmmaking projects. I filmed birds for Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s documentary VIVANT, and since 2022 I have been developing my major long-term project, Regards d’Extinction (Faces of Extinction).
I also serve as a board member of “Re Nature Environnement” and am a member of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO). Alongside these organizations, I use my expertise in photography to support wildlife conservation in France and around the world. My three main goals are to raise awareness about species conservation, introduce people to lesser-known animals, and capture images that inspire an emotional connection with nature.
Exposition
Regards d’Extinction brings together more than 300 close-up portraits of endangered animals, each captured in a direct face-to-face encounter. The project stands out for its remarkable diversity of rare species, with every portrait linked to a wildlife conservation organization.
Each animal is presented as an individual, meeting the viewer’s gaze directly. By confronting audiences with these 300 faces, the project invites reflection on humanity’s role in the sixth mass extinction, while raising awareness of the urgent need to protect biodiversity.
All major animal groups are represented, from mammals and birds to reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. The aim is to highlight that the biodiversity crisis affects all forms of life, not just the most iconic species.
Nearly three-quarters of the photos were taken in accredited zoological parks, avoiding the enormous carbon footprint that would have resulted from making 300 separate long-haul flights to photograph each species in the wild.
Galerie
Books
Regards d'Extinction
Publisher : La Salamandre