Photo: Global Penguin Society
Some people devote their lives to observing nature; others, to transforming the way the world protects it. Pablo García Borboroglu is, without a doubt, part of the latter group.
Affectionately known as “Popi,” he is a renowned Argentine marine biologist, National Geographic explorer, and passionate advocate for the wild landscapes of Patagonia. He has forged an extraordinary career by combining science, public outreach, and concrete actions in support of biodiversity.
As founder of the international organization Global Penguin Society, he has played a key role in the conservation of penguins and marine ecosystems worldwide, earning him accolades such as the 2023 Indianapolis Prize, known as the “Nobel Prize of animal conservation.”
As a judge for the 7th Patagonia Photo Contest, Pablo brings a unique perspective shaped by both his scientific expertise and his deep knowledge of Patagonia’s majestic environments. In an era when visual storytelling is key to conservation, his participation reinforces the contest’s mission: to celebrate images that capture the extraordinary nature of Patagonia and raise awareness of its fragility.
Patagon Journal: What is it about Patagonia that makes it such a powerful—yet at the same time so vulnerable—place in the face of the lens and human action?
Pablo García Borboroglu: Patagonia is a land of contrasts: magical and distinctly different from any other place on the planet. Its landscapes are profoundly wild, its wildlife is unique, and its identity is so powerful that, as soon as you travel through it, you feel you are in a one-of-a-kind territory. But those very contrasts make it vulnerable. It can offer us a pleasant climate and, within hours, turn into a hostile and challenging environment. That intensity is part of its character. Patagonia’s immensity can never be fully captured: there is always something left out of the frame, something more to discover. That sense of infinity drives us to want to know more, to return, and to explore. Therein lies its fragility: what seems eternal and powerful can easily change if we fail to understand that we are facing a delicate ecosystem, shaped over millions of years.
As a judge for Patagon Journal’s 7th Patagonia Photo Contest, what do you look for in an image beyond aesthetics: emotion, narrative, social commentary, or the ability to raise awareness?
PGB: I look for an image that connects us with the soul of Patagonia, that conveys part of its mystery. It doesn’t necessarily have to show everything; sometimes, a photograph is merely a window into something immeasurable. I’m interested in an image that suggests more than it explains, that invites the viewer to feel and imagine what lies beyond the frame. Patagonia isn’t just a spectacular postcard: it’s emotion, silence, and contained power. If a photograph manages to evoke that profound dimension—that blend of beauty, immensity, and vulnerability—then it achieves something far more powerful than the merely aesthetic.
Photo: Mission Blue
What mistakes do you see most often when photographing nature and wildlife, especially in sensitive places like Patagonia?
PGB: Sometimes I see images taken under duress, which lose the naturalness and authenticity. When you try to control the scene too much or provoke a behavior in the wildlife, something essential is lost.
It’s important to enjoy nature just as it is, in its everyday state. Not everything has to be epic or majestic. Sometimes, the image of a branch whipped by the wind, or of an animal in a simple moment of its routine, can transport us more powerfully to the Patagonia we admire. Patagonia doesn’t need dramatization: it needs respect.
In a context where tourism is growing steadily in Patagonia, what role can photography play in promoting a more ethical and responsible relationship with ecosystems?
PGB: Photography can—and must—educate. It can teach the value of keeping these spaces as pristine as possible and of admiring species without destroying their environment or disrupting their habits. It is essential that visitors learn not to disturb wildlife to get a better shot, nor to get too close to make the animal “look at the camera.” An ethical photograph is one that does not alter the essence of the moment. If the image succeeds in raising awareness, it transcends its status as a mere photograph and becomes a conservation tool.
Photo: Global Penguin SocietyAs a judge, are you more interested in technically perfect photography or in images that convey an authentic connection with the land and its species? Why?
PGB: Technique is important. A photograph must be well-executed and polished; it must catch the eye and stand out. But technique is not the end goal; it is the means.
Technique must serve the message, the values of Patagonia. It must help give them a dimension that goes beyond the paper or the screen. What really matters is that the image has a soul: it awakens an emotion in the viewer, moves them, makes them stop and reflect. A technically perfect but empty photograph leaves no mark; an image with a soul does.
What message would you like this contest to convey about the future of Patagonia, the last wild places, and the urgency of protecting them?
PGB: I would like the contest to convey the profound privilege of living in or visiting such an extraordinary place. I hope it helps us understand that it is up to us to ensure Patagonia endures over time. This land took millions of years to form, most of that time without human presence. Ecosystems do not need us to exist; it is we who depend on them.
Hopefully, the images will remind us that true greatness lies in allowing Patagonia to continue doing its marvelous work—even if we aren’t there to see it—and that our passage through it leaves a mark of care, not of impact. Because protecting it is not just an environmental act, but an act of humility in the face of the planet’s history.
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