Björn Persson

The acclaimed wildlife photographer talks to Graeme Green about creativity, conservation and connection

- Graeme Green

For wildlife photographer Björn Persson, the message is what matters. “I’m not interested in that pure documentary style of wildlife photography,” he says. “I want to touch people on an emotional level. I want to move people.”

We’re talking via Zoom, Björn at home in Stockholm. Behind him, the shelves are filled with African masks, statues and other souvenirs from his years of travelling and photographing the natural world. He describes his photography, as seen in his new book Beauty Will Save the World, as art, distinguishing his approach from photojournalism or natural history.

“A few years ago, I thought to myself that a lot of wildlife photography looks the same,” he says. “There are so many great images and it’s so hard these days, especially with the internet and social media, to penetrate that, so I needed to find my own voice. That’s how I started working artistically with images, retouching them, to take them to another dimension. I want to take my viewers to another state of mind; a dreamy world, almost like you’re in the picture. That’s why I allow myself that creative freedom.” Post-production is a crucial part of Björn’s process. “When I’m done retouching, it’s a gut feeling,” he explains. “Like painting a painting, the trick is to stop in time. Some photos, I don’t need to do anything. Sometimes I push it a lot further, removing or adding things to make the picture more interesting. I work with filters and warm light. I like light that’s vibrant, mythical, magical. That’s my palette of colours in taking the photo and in post-production.”