During his time working with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, Canon Ambassador Maxime Aliaga has produced a large portfolio of work. The best of these photographs were published in his book Pongo in 2020, including this image of a rescued mother – now living in the wild – and her young baby. Since the organisation's rehabilitation program began, more than 200 orangutans have been released. Taken on a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens at 400mm, 1/320 sec, f/5.6 and ISO1000. © Maxime Aliaga
Canon Ambassador Maxime Aliaga's photography celebrates the extraordinary beauty and diversity of the natural world, but it also highlights the importance of conservation work. "Photography, for me, is a way to talk about the fragility of nature and the need to take action to preserve it," he says. "That's my purpose."
Maxime took up photography at the age of 24, finding his first subjects in the abundant wildlife of the Mediterranean forests around his hometown of Montpellier, southern France. "The forests were my playground, a great place to start," he recalls.
In the years since, Maxime has worked in countries such as Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea and the Seychelles, photographing a wide range of species, from insects to primates. He has always used Canon kit, starting with a Canon EOS 350D and later moving on to other bodies (such as the Canon EOS 7D Mark II), while increasing his range of lenses. In 2019, his work was recognised with an associate fellowship from the International League of Conservation Photographers.