PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2024 • Tree of Life: A Love letter to Nature

This year’s PhotoVogue Global Open Call is an ode to the awe-inspiring beauty of our natural world and the myriad creatures that populate it.

Our call transcends the search for visual talent, aiming to foster a message of compassion, respect, and admiration for nature and all animals. We advocate for a fundamental shift in how we interact with our planet and its inhabitants, emphasizing not only the magnificence of the natural world but also the profound love and connection between humans and animals, extending this to the broader community of life that surrounds us.

Building upon our expanded view of kinship, this vision aligns with Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’ We wish to expand this connection beyond traditional pets to include often overlooked animals such as cows and pigs and even beyond the mammal class, acknowledging their capacity for deep emotions, which society has often neglected, and their essential role in preserving the ecosystem.

Drawing inspiration from “Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations” by The Center for Humans and Nature, edited by Gavin Van Horn, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and John Hausdoerffer, our call resonates deeply with the idea of a shared community of life. In this community, the connections we share with our fellow humans are just as significant as those with nonhuman beings. This rich mosaic of existence encompasses everything from the bacterium thriving in our bellies to the trees that sustain the air we breathe, affirming that all are our kin.

For many cultures around the world, being human is based upon this extended sense of kinship, recognizing nonhumans as integral persons in our lives. It’s a perspective that sees humans and nonhumans alike as essential members of a vibrant, life-generating planetary network.

In this exuberant and dynamic tangle of relations, we are committed to deepening our care and respect for the entire family of life that shares our planet — including plants, rivers, mountains, animals, and other co-inhabitants.