Long before genetic testing revealed a 96.4 DNA overlap between
orangutans and humans, the similarities between the two were noticed.
The name “orangutan” comes from the Malay word orang (people) and hutan (forest). I’m focusing on orangutans, because, while the future for many species is uncertain, orangutans in the wild are hanging on by a particularly thin vine. Their populations have declined significantly over the past hundred years due to habitat destruction in their native Sumatra and Borneo where forests give way to palm oil plantations. If we loose the forest we loose the orangutans.
Mark Edward Harris’ assignments have taken him to 101 countries on six continents. His editorial work has appeared in publications ranging from Vanity Fair, LIFE, and The New York Times to Time, GEO, Newsweek and National Geographic Traveler. His accolades include CLIO, ACE, Aurora Gold, and IPA awards. His books include Faces of the Twentieth Century: Master Photographers and Their Work, The Way of the Japanese Bath, Wanderlust, North Korea, South Korea, Inside Iran,The Travel Photo Essay: Describing A Journey Through Images, and his latest, The People of the Forest, about orangutans.
Awards Impact Docs Award,“Nick Ut: From Hell to Hollywood” Award of Excellence” 2021
Prix de la Photographie, “Orangutans on a Thin Vine” Paris 2020
Tokyo International Photography Awards 2019
PhotoFest, San Miguel de Allende, Nat Geo: A Planet in the Balance 2019
2016 ASBPE Azbee Gold Award, Travel Weekly “The Hermit Kingdom” 2016
“The Micronesians” for Civil Beat, 1st place winning series Best of the West 2016
International Photography Awards – Book of the Year “North Korea" 2013
Black & White Spider Awards “Photographer of the Year” 2005
Book of the Year and Best of Show Awards - New York Book Show 1999
“Faces of the Twentieth Century: Master Photographers and Their Work”
ACE Award, CLIO Award, and AURORA GOLD Awards for advertising campaigns.
