A photographer's world beyond the lens镜头下的世界

河南 谷战峰

摄影师盖布·梅贾致力于保护鸟类和正在消失的民族文化，他用镜头记录气候带来的影响，希望未来一代的人能拥有关心自然的文化。

1Gab Mejia,who was recently included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List for The Arts in Asia,got his first camera at 18.Since then,he has spent most of his waking hours taking pictures outdoors.As a photographer,he released striking photos that would attract anyone looking through his Instagram profile.

2Mejia turned his sights on the Agusan Marsh,which is home to species that constantly shift depending on the dry and wet seasons.Mejia was able to take his share of bird photos.Once,to observe the wildlife,he and his team waited,silently and patiently,for two days until it appeared.“It rested on the tree for about five to seven seconds and it flew away.”But Mejia was able to photograph it.

3Beyond the lens,he witnessed first-hand how the marsh was suffering.“There were droughts.I was beating on the fires.”The smoke and ash destroyed the trees and killed the birds like the Mindanao Hornbill and the Brahminy Kite.And he took pictures of those,too.

4For Mejia,one of the most amazing experiences there was living with the Manobo tribe,the marginalized（被边缘化的）communities.Living in wooden houses that float above the water,the Manobos are losing their livelihoods.They've been living there for centuries,coexisting with the marsh.They have embraced their heritage and protected their home without changing much of their way of life.The climate change is taking away what is sacred to them.They are losing their way of life in the marsh.Amplifying（放大）the message,not only have Mejia's photos reached the governor and government agencies,but he also worked with local filmmakers to develop a documentary that features the people in the community.

5“As a storyteller,I really want that love for the animals and that love for nature to be with other kids or youths.We are going to inherit these places.We are having that active engagement with the youth community in a youth organization that works for these conservation areas—it's gonna go a long way because we're really building this generation that has a culture of care for nature.”

Reading Check

Ⅰ.Fill in each blank with only one word

C h a r a c t e r G a b M e j i a B a c k g r o u n d D e e d s 6.●H o n o u r:G a b M e j i a w a s a m o n g t h e F o r b e s 3 0 U n d e r 3 0 L i s t f o r T h e A r t s i n A s i a.●C a r e e r:H e s t a r t e d h i s c a r e e r a s a 1. a t t h e a g e o f 1 8.●O n t h e A g u s a n M a r s h M e j i a 2. t h e w i l d l i f e o n t h e A g u s a n M a r s h.O n c e,h e s p e n t 2 d a y s w a i t i n g f o r t h e w i l d l i f e i n o r d e r t o p h o t o g r a p h i t.H e d o c u m e n t e d h o w t h e m a r s h w a s 3. .●W i t h t h e M a n o b o t r i b e M a n o b o s a r e l o s i n g t h e i r 4. a n d t h e c l i m a t e c h a n g e i s t a k i n g a w a y w h a t i s s a c r e d t o t h e m.M e j i a l i v e d w i t h t h e M a n o b o t r i b e,r e c o r d i n g t h e M a n o b o t r i b e's l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s t o d e v e l o p a 5. t h a t f e a t u r e s t h e p e o p l e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y.L o v e f o r t h e a n i m a l s a n d l o v e f o r n a t u r e w i l l b e w i t h o t h e r k i d s o r y o u t h s.

Ⅱ.Discussion

What can be used to describe Gab Mejia according to the text?

Language Study

Write a summary of Gab Mejia with about 60 words according to the text.