CONSERVATION: Award winning photographer Daniel Beltrá takes powerful new images of The Amazon

London, 23rd June 2009

Award winning photographer Daniel Beltrá takes powerful new images of The Amazon

First images taken on The Prince's Rainforest Project and Sony assignment show the rainforests' glory and destruction

Daniel Beltrá, this year's winner of The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) Award at the Sony World Photography Awards has released some initial photographs taken on the first leg of his prize - a fully-funded assignment to document the three major rainforest regions of the world.

The Spanish photographer, now based in Seattle, beat off stiff competition from some of the world's finest environmental photographers to win the assignment on behalf of The Prince's Rainforests Project and Sony Europe.

"Travelling to the Amazon has been an incredible experience and I have been able to capture some powerful images that show the many different elements of the rainforest – the beauty, the wildlife, the local people and also the destruction", says Daniel. "It is has been an eye-opening journey so far and I'm looking forward to photographing the Central African and South East Asian rainforests on the next parts of my trip. I hope the photos I produce will make a strongly persuasive argument for emergency action to preserve the world's tropical rainforests".

The PRP, founded by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, recognises that every year, destruction of the Earth's rainforests releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all the world's cars, planes and ships put together and aims to achieve consensus about how the rate of deforestation might be slowed. The PRP is working with governments, businesses and non-profit organisations around the world to find solutions to deforestation - and to find them fast - with the ambition of 'making the trees worth more alive than dead'. The project has also launched a global awareness campaign, asking people to sign up at http://www.blogger.com/www.rainforestSOS.orgto put rainforests at the heart of the climate change debate.

Environmental responsibility has been a significant part of the Sony ethos for many years and the PRP partnership is just one of Sony's many environmental initiatives. Sony Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer recently filmed a video with the PRP animated frog in support of the partnership which can be seen on the PRP website.

Sony and the PRP are delivering a stunning interactive exhibition that will combine Daniel's new photographs with Sony technology to allow people to experience the glory of the rainforests and understand their plight. The exhibition will open at Kew Gardens, London on October 3rd 2009.

Media contact

Sony
Claire Mylchreest, Corporate Communications, Sony Europe
Tel: +44 1932 81 6000/ email: http://www.blogger.com/claire.mylchreest@eu.sony.com

PRP
Kim Shaw, Cake
Tel: +44 7791 717 720/ email: http://www.blogger.com/kims@cakegroup.com


Further information

• Daniel Beltrá is available for interview and images from his current PRP assignment are available through the PRP and Sony, contact details below.

• About Daniel Beltrá
Beltrá is the winner of numerous awards. Last year, he won awards in the NPPA Best of Photojournalism and the International Photography/Lucie contests. He is a fellow of the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP). His Amazon work was awarded in the China International Press Photo contest in 2006 and the World Press Photo in 2006 and 2007. That same year, along with Sir David Attenborough, he received a Special Nomination from The International Forum on the Drought in Seville (Spain) for his dedication to the environment.

• The Prince's Rainforests Project
The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) was established in October 2007 by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and aims to achieve consensus as to how the rate of deforestation might be slowed and stopped. The PRP intend to leverage the convening power of HRH The Prince of Wales and work alongside governments, international businesses, non-profit organisations and the rainforests nations themselves to find a solution to mass deforestation and degradation of the rainforests, and make the trees worth more alive than they are dead.

If you're interested in finding out more about the PRP or to register your support to combat climate change through halting deforestation, please log-on to: http://www.blogger.com/www.princesrainforestsproject.org

• About Sony
Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be one of the world's leading digital entertainment brands. Sony recorded consolidated global annual sales of EUR 54.4billion (yen 7,730 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 142.0 to the EUR. It employs approximately 171,300 people worldwide. In Europe, the Sony Group recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 14.0 billion (yen 1,987.7 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.

• For more information about Sony's environmental initiatives go to http://www.blogger.com/www.sony.eu/eco