Through the lens of sustainability: The power of visual storytelling

Canon Young People Program
Young People Program participants taking pictures on a field trip to Kruger National Park (Image credit: Adam Pensotti)

Photography has long been a powerful driver of change. It’s a universal language that’s famously effective in delivering messages and bringing people together. We’ve changed the world through images – from the first photo of Earth taken from space to the melting polar ice caps – the power of visual storytelling shouldn’t be underestimated.   

For the environmental movement, visual storytelling has played an especially significant role. Many trace the start of this movement back to a single photograph in 1968 called Earthrise – an image of our planet taken from space that perfectly captured the sentiment of a united population in the face of climate change. Since then, imaging has helped to raise awareness of sustainability narratives; speaking truths and highlighting to global audiences the need to come together and act for long-term positive change.  

Adam Pensotti
Adam Pensotti

Adam Pensotti champions social sustainability at Canon EMEA’s London headquarters. He is Head of the Canon Young People Programme, an EMEA-wide social investment strategy providing visual storytelling workshops focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With over 25 years of experience in the creative sector, Adam started as a photographer, then a cinematographer, then a director and producer.

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Hannah Rooke
Staff Writer

Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. For the last 3 years Hannah has worked at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With 5 years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.