CarltonWardJrisaconservationphotographerfromTampa,Florida.HispassionfornaturewasbornfromtheFloridalandscape,whereeightgenerationsoffamilyhistoryhavegroundedhisperspective.Heseesnaturalenvironmentsandculturallegaciesastheearth’sgreatestyetmostthreatenedresources.Forhisfirstbook,TheEdgeofAfrica,CarltonspenteightmonthsinthetropicalrainforestsofGabonwiththeSmithsonianInstitutiondocumentingtheregion’sunseenandundiscoveredbiologicaldiversity.ThephotographswereexhibitedinGabon,LondonandbytheUnitedNationsinNewYork.
CarltonisafoundingfellowoftheInternationalLeagueofConservationPhotographers(ILCP)andfoundedtheLegacyInstituteforNature&Culture(LINC),anon‐profitorganizationwiththepurposeofcelebratingandprotectingFlorida’snaturalandculturalheritagethroughart.WhilecompletingaMaster’sdegreeinEcology,CarltonwroteConservation
Photography,thefirstthesisontheemergingfield.His2009Book,FloridaCowboys,wonasilvermedalintheFloridaBookAwardsandforthatworkPopularPhotographyMagazinefeaturedhimasoneofthreephotographersworkingtosavevanishingAmerica.
Carlton’simmediatefocusistheFloridaWildlifeCorridorprojectwhichheestablishedin2009.StartingJanuary17,2012,hewillco‐leadtheFloridaWildlifeCorridorExpedition–a100day,1000miletrekandpublicawarenesscampaignfromtheEvergladestoOkefenokee(Georgia).PhotographsfromrelatedassignmentswithintheEvergladesHeadwatersarepublishedonthecoveroftheMay‐JuneissueofAudubonMagazineandinthesummer2011issueofNatureConservancyMagazine,andfeaturedinthefilmKissimmeeBasin:NorthernEverglades.