April 17, 2009

A photographer’s journey

National Geographic photographer Mattias Klum has travelled the world capturing some of its most fragile environments and threatened species

Mattias Klum gallery: Rainforest in Danum Valley, Malaysian Borneo — Mattias Klum: 'When I came to Borneo for the first time in 1988 as a 20-year-old this is the Borneo I imagined ... mist-drenched rainforest, incredible trees and rich vegetation ... ' Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Mist-drenched forest in the Santubong area, Sarawak, Borneo — Over the last 20 years, more rainforest timber has been exported from Borneo than from the continents of Africa and South America together Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Camp of nomadic Penan at night in Borneo's rainforest — Camp of nomadic Penan: These indigenous people have lived for centuries in Borneo's rainforest, using blowpipes and poison darts to hunt Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Silverleaf monkey, Danum Valley, Borneo — Silverleaf monkey, Danum Valley, Borneo: 'During 14 months in the rainforest I only got a few encounters with these primates. It's not like the East African Savannas where you can count on seeing big herds of animals. You have to be content with small miracles' Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Green whipsnake, Danum Valley, Borneo — An Asiatic grass-green whipsnake in the Danum Valley, Borneo: These incredibly cautious and well-camouflaged animals are very difficult to spot among the greenery Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Asiatic lioness and cub, Sasan Gir, India — Asiatic lioness and cub, Sasan Gir, India: This teak forest in Gujarat, western India, is the last domain of Asiatic lions in the world. There are only 300 left, making it one of the most vulnerable species - and extremely difficult to photograph Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Ladakh Monastery, India — Monastery in Ladakh: This monastery is in a locked area way up in the mountains, meaning it has been lost in a time warp, untouched by globalisation or tourism. It took two years and a letter from the Dalai Lama to gain access to this hidden valley Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Red Ibises, Venezuela — Red Ibises, Venezuela: This shot was taken late in the evening with a slow shutter speed to create this cinematic effect Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Iceberg, Antarctica — Icebergs shaped by water and wind in Antarctica: Antarctica holds about 90% of the earth's ice and scientists now believe that the Antarctic Peninsula is melting faster than previously thought Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Landmannalaugar delta, Iceland — Landmannalaugar delta, Iceland: An aerial perspective looking down on a silted river system with sulphite coming out of the ground Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Oak on a November morning, Uppsala, Sweden — Oak on a November morning, Uppsala, Sweden: 'This picture was taken right behind my house. We don't have to travel far to find beautiful things' Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Pine tree, Stockholm archipelago, Sweden — Pine tree, Stockholm archipelago, Sweden Photograph: Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum gallery: Uppsala Botanical garden, Sweden — Uppsala Botanical garden, Sweden: 'Some of the pictures, I hope can spark some interest in [global] issues, but also in travelling and taking pictures because with a camera we are all story tellers and ambassadors for our own neighbourhood and the places we go' Photograph: Mattias Klum

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