Interview With Zinnia Gutowski, Environmental Photographer

This interview was conducted by Selva Ozelli

Tell us about your journey in becoming a photographer after a career in business management to the most famous musicians in the world?

I was born and grew up in this small Island Cebu, Philippines. Cebu is one of eight major coral reef zones in the world. The coastal zone is identified as a site of highest marine biodiversity in the Coral Triangle of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.  

I moved to the US in my twenties and began my career in business management to world famous musicians such as Bob Dylan and Billy Joel.

After a long career in business management, I turned my attention to environmental  photography which has been my lifelong passion. I took photograph series of Philippines, coastal and migrating birds and flowers taken in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and New York. And I have been exhibiting my work in juried exhibitions worldwide.

What attracted you to photographing water birds and the challenges of capturing the right composition.

As a part-time resident of Cape Cod, Massachusetts I am lucky to have spent countless hours at a coastal area where there is an area protecting the migrating coastal birds’ nest in these areas. This  inspired me to document them thru the lens.  

It is challenging to capture the right composition while photographing birds because they like to move around a lot and  aren't always in the most convenient of locations to take a picture of them. But these factors are also what make getting that perfect image so satisfying.

What is the climate change impact on water birds?

Namely: Coastal erosion due to rising ocean levels and weather disturbances - increasing global temperature – causes water birds starvation and deaths during migration. It is a big factor in the population. Many water birds are at risk.

According to a study by scientists the National Audubon Society sea levels along New York's marine coast have risen some nine inches since 1950 and could rise another six inches in the next 14 years, threatening resident and migratory birds and challenging the resilience of millions of people in communities along the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. The winter range of all birds in the eastern U.S. has moved due to climate change, though those restricted to certain habitats are especially vulnerable.

What interest you in joining the UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE ART SHOW? Tell us about your interest in ocean preservation.

I joined The UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE Art Show taking place at Art on Ave NYC’s windows of Fulton Center for three months from Earth Day to Plastic Free July with a theme of Plastic vs. Planet with my water bird series of photographs to show/illustrate how beautiful our coastal birds are. 

We have a love-hate relationship with PLASTIC. The first synthetic plastic was pioneered in 1907. This discovery was revolutionary. 10 and 1/5 decades later, we hate it. Formaldehyde (highly toxic synthetic poison absorbed well by inhalation) and Phenol are the main components which are volatile organic compounds. Our food and drugs for therapeutic use come from Marine sources. Marine animals ingest and get trapped with plastics that pollute the oceans – 90% of pollution in the oceans is plastic. Microplastics are already detected in human tissue. So, Humans play an important role in stopping the flow of plastics into the ocean to protect ocean species including water birds.

How does the art work in UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE ART SHOW draw attention to ocean preservation, ocean literacy to better understand, manage and sustain ocean resources?

My photographs capture the beauty of coastal birds and if we want to see and preserve this beauty for future generation, we MUST act now.

Your UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE ART SHOW art is held in empty fronts for the public to see. Does the general public react and respond to your art work on exhibit?

In my opinion is that if the public would stop and look and make aware of our cause, then they’ll think twice of Ocean Pollution with 90% is plastic. In the fall of 2020 New York State banned Single-use plastic carryout bags, with limited exceptions. It was a welcome change.

Where is UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE ART SHOW taking place and for how long?

Hosted by Art on Ave NYC, the UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE ART SHOW is taking place at FULTON CENTER windows located at 200 Broadway, New York, New York from April 1, 2024, to July 7, 2024.

Do you have any other ocean or environmental themed art shows planned for this year especially during Climate Change New York that takes places from September 22-30 while the United Nations General Assembly meetings are held in New York?

Yes, will take part in several environmental art shows this year some physical and some digital.   

I am participating in an art show titled “PINK & BLUE” at The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY from August 10,2024 to September 29,2024 running parallel to Climate Week New York and the United Nations General Assembly meeting.  

I with my digital art shows, running parallel to my UNESCO OCEAN DECADE TIDES OF CHANGE WAVES OF HOPE art show at Fulton Center, NY, NY I intend to take part in the following global environmental art shows:

• The United Nations World Migratory Bird Day on May 11 with a theme of “Protect Insects and Birds” with my Birds and Insects series art show.
• International Day for Biological Diversity 2024 – UNEP on May 22 with a theme of “Be Part of the Plan”, with my Birds and Insects and Waterbird Series art shows.
• World Environment Day on June 5 with a focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024 and I will participate with my Birds and Insects art show.
• World Oceans Day on June 8 with a theme of Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate with my Water Birds and Philippines series of art shows.  
• London Climate Action Week from June 22-30 with all of my 2024 series of shows.

I am also participating in the ART TO SAVE THE PLANET art show with a climate change theme hosted by Art on Ave NYC, during April.

Tell us about your ART TO SAVE THE PLANET art show and where it is taking place, during which dates and the theme of your work on exhibit at this art show.

The ART TO SAVE THE PLANET art show is on view during April at 33 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York building. 

At this art show I have photographs from my Philippines series  photographed in Mactan Island, Cebu, Manila Bay and Lingayen Gulf, Philippines. And also, from my series “Insects & Birds” series of butterflies and hummingbirds photographed in New York and Belize.

Tell us about your Pink & Blue art show, where it is taking place, during which dates and the theme of your work on exhibit at this art show.

Our Pink & Blue  art show will take place on Aug. 10, 2024, to Sept. 29, 2024 at The Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street Beacon, New York. The art show is intended to be part of the 2024 Climate Week New York and the United Nations General Assembly events. Pink sky connotes presence of air pollutants. Blue sky channels peace, serenity, endlessness, and spirituality and also the oceans which The ocean generates 50 percent of the oxygen we need, absorbs 25 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90 percent of the excess heat generated by these emissions. Overall, blue is found to carry a sense of loyalty, trust, cleanliness and understanding.

Anything else you would like to share with us.

The possibility is endless. We have huge resources and tools to make our planet clean. We all must contribute.

How can people reach you?

A. I can be reached at: [email protected] and @zagphotoart

Hummingbirds, Philippine Islands, Water birds. (c) 2024 Zinnia Gutowski