HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene

About the Book

Exhibitions

Our Team
Photographers
Featured Press
For Media

HEADER IMAGES: Paul Hilton (Man with Shark) | Jose Valla (Man with Dogs) | Konrad Lozinski (Chicks in Crate) | Aitor Garmendia (Cow and Knife)

HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene is an unflinching book of photography documenting our relationship with non-human animals in the 21st century, as depicted through the lenses of 40 award-winning photojournalists.
Independent Publisher Book Awards | Gold Medallist – “Outstanding Book of the Year – Most Likely To Save The Planet” (2021)
Pictures of the Year International | Photography Book of the Year (2020)
It focuses on the invisible animals in our lives: those with whom we have a close relationship and yet fail to see. They are the animals we eat and the animals we wear. They are the animals used in research and for entertainment, as well as the animals we sacrifice in the name of tradition and religion. The stories within its pages are revelatory and brutal.

The Anthropocene is the proposed name for the current geological epoch. In this era, human activity is the dominant influence on climate, the environment, and all life on earth. As we enter a new decade, an estimated 80 billion land animals continue to be used and consumed by humans each year. The majority of these animals are raised and killed within industrial agricultural systems. Fish and other marine life are measured by tonnes.  

HIDDEN adopts an unashamedly pro-animal perspective, yet also understands the important role community leaders, educators, policy makers and activists play in determining a future relationship with animals based upon a compassionate and humane co-existence.

BOOK DETAILS
320 x 240 mm
12.6″ x 9.5″
320 pages
4lbs 11oz
204 historic images
4-colour printing, 3 gatefold spreads
Hard cover + foil stamping & debossing
Printed in Italy on sustainably sourced paper
HIDDEN is a collectible limited edition
Published by We Animals Media
World distributor: Lantern Publishing and Media

“The photojournalists featured in HIDDEN have entered some of the darkest, most unsettling places in the world. The images they have captured are a searing reminder of our unpardonable behavior towards animals and will serve as beacons of change for years to come.”
JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ACTOR AND VEGAN ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATE
*Joaquin contributed the foreword to HIDDEN.
Aitor Garmendia

EXHIBITIONS | Back to Top

UPCOMING & CURRENT

University of Valencia – Tarongers Campus | Feb 8 – Apr 10, 2024 – Valencia, Spain

PAST

University of Valencia – La Nau Cultural Center | Nov 7 – Dec 3, 2023 – Valencia, Spain

Montier Photo Festival | Nov 16 – 19, 2023 – Montier-en-der, France

Sala Luna Pizarro del Congreso de la República | October 2, 2023 – Lima, Peru

Photobastei – The House for Photography | May 4 – 28, 2023 – Zurich, Switzerland

Galerie FAIT & CAUSE | Jan 25 – Apr 15, 2023 – Paris, France

Colorado Photographic Arts Center | Feb 27 – Mar 24, 2023 – Denver, CO, USA

Gallery of Fine Art in Ostrava, Art House | Sep 14 – Nov 20, 2022 – Ostrava, Czechia

Stavros Niarchos Fdn. Cultural Center | Oct 16, 2022 – Kallithea, Greece

The Source Art Centre | Sep 9 – Oct 15, 2022 – Thurles, Ireland

Visa pour l’image – International Festival of Photojournalism | Aug 27 – Sep 12, 2021 – Perpignan, France

f3, freiraum für fotografie | Feb 12 – Apr 18, 2021 – Berlin, Germany (Take the 360° virtual tour)

HIDDEN Exhibitions
HIDDEN Exhibitions

Louise Jorgensen

OUR TEAM | Back to Top

Jo-Anne McArthur

Keith Wilson

David Griffin

Sarah Janson

Britta Jaschinski

SAYARA THURSTON

Jo-Anne McArthur

Jo-Anne is an award-winning photojournalist, author and the founder of We Animals Media. She has photographed in over 60 countries and speaks internationally on the subjects of the human-animal relationship, social change, and empathy. 

www.joannemcarthur.com

Keith Wilson

An acclaimed photo editor and journalist, Keith is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the founder and past editor of Outdoor Photography and Wild Planet magazines. He has interviewed the best-known photographers of our time. This will be his ninth co-produced book.

www.keithwilsonmedia.com

David Griffin

David was the visuals editor of The Washington Post, director of photography of National Geographic, and has held many other design and photography positions in the media. 

www.dgriffinstudio.com

Sarah Janson

Sarah supports animal advocacy-focused organizations, managing various projects, events and fundraising initiatives. She joins the HIDDEN team as project manager.

www.littlebylittleic.com

Britta Jaschinski

Britta is the co-editor of Photographers Against Wildlife Crime and joins our team in colour editing HIDDEN

www.brittaphotography.com

SAYARA THURSTON

Sayara is a Montreal-based activist, writer and editor. She joins the HIDDEN team as copy editor.

Jo-Anne McArthur

Jo-Anne is an award-winning photojournalist, author and the founder of We Animals Media. She has photographed in over 60 countries and speaks internationally on the subjects of the human-animal relationship, social change, and empathy. 

www.joannemcarthur.com

Keith Wilson

An acclaimed photo editor and journalist, Keith is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the founder and past editor of Outdoor Photography and Wild Planet magazines. He has interviewed the best-known photographers of our time. This will be his ninth co-produced book.

www.keithwilsonmedia.com

David Griffin

David was the visuals editor of The Washington Post, director of photography of National Geographic, and has held many other design and photography positions in the media. 

www.dgriffinstudio.com

Sarah Janson

Sarah supports animal advocacy-focused organizations, managing various projects, events and fundraising initiatives. She joins the HIDDEN team as project manager.

www.littlebylittleic.com

Britta Jaschinski

Britta is the co-editor of Photographers Against Wildlife Crime and joins our team in colour editing HIDDEN

www.brittaphotography.com

SAYARA THURSTON

Sayara is a Montreal-based activist, writer and editor. She joins the HIDDEN team as copy editor.
Andrew Skowron

“I am, quite simply, in awe of these photographers. In a way, they are like war photographers, except witness to a war that so many people have little idea exists, or choose to suppress that exists. This takes enormous inner strength and bloody-minded determination to illuminate the mass extermination that unfolds every second of every day across the planet.

NICK BRANDT, PHOTOGRAPHER
OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS | Back to Top

The strength of this book is in its contributing photographers. HIDDEN represents the work of 40 photojournalists who have – and continue to – document animal stories. These photographers are the heroes who work globally to investigate and expose animal use. Their exhaustive and in-depth work has resulted in some of the most compelling and historic images of animals that we have seen. 

The work of our contributors has been celebrated by Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, Festival della Fotographia Etica, Alfred Fried Peace Award, the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, World Press Photo, NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism, Sony World Photography Awards, Picture of the Year International, Latin International Photography Award, DAYS Japan, and Prix de la Photographie.

Our photographers have also been published in and interviewed by publications such as National Geographic, GEO, BBC Discover Wildlife, The Guardian, CNN, Telegraph, New Scientist, Newsweek, The Sunday Times, Nikon Pro, Black+White Photography, Vice, La Repubblica and The Washington Post. Additionally, their work has been used in animal advocacy campaigns worldwide. 

Aaron Gekoski
Adam Dean
Adam Oswell
Aitor Garmendia
Amy Jones
Andrew Quilty
Andrew Skowron
Anipixels
Bridget Laudien
Britta Jaschinski
Carlota Saorsa
Daniel Beltrá
Dulce Ramírez
Francesco Pistilli
Gav Wheatley
Jan Sorgenfrei
Jan van IJken
Jeff Mitchell
Joan de la Malla
Jo-Anne McArthur
Jon Amad
Jose Valle
Juho Kerola
Julie O’Neill
Kelly Guerin
Kelsey Hannah
Konrad Lozinski
Kristo Muurimaa
Kuni Takahashi
Lissy Jayne
Louise Jorgensen
Luis Tato
Paul Hilton
Roger Kingbird
Sabine Grootendorst
Selene Magnolia
Stefano Belacchi
Tamara Kenneally
Timo Stammberger
Tommaso Ausili

HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene

Order Now

Amazon (CAN)  | Lantern (US/Worldwide)  | Deep Books (UK/EUR)  | E-Book  | Signed Copy

Andrew Skowron
PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEWS | Back to Top

The work of an animal photojournalist is often challenging and deeply personal. Learn more about the individual motivations behind the work of selected contributing photographers below.

“We make countless split second decisions when taking shots that reflect our emotions. The resulting images are a window into the soul of both our subjects and ourselves.”

AARON GEKOSKI  |  Read More

“I want the aesthetics of a photo and its beauty to catch the viewer’s gaze and thus serve to understand horror and injustice.”

AITOR GARMENDIA  |  Read More

“Whilst it can feel isolating doing this kind of work, HIDDEN serves as a reminder of how each investigator inspires others to continue, and that we’re in this together for animals.”

AMY JONES  |  Read More

“We’re at such a stage of evolution that we don’t have to kill animals. The fact that we still eat meat is just a matter of convenience.”

ANDREW SKOWRON  |  Read More

“To move towards a society where the interests of animals are respected and not discriminated against, it is necessary to know the serious situation they are suffering. And our duty is to expose it.”

CARLOTA SAORSA  |  Read More

“I use my photographic language, my personal way to tell stories, because I want to make these terrible images more understandable—to let people be more empathic.”

FRANCESCO PISTILLI  |  Read More

“When I take photos, I try to think of images as open wounds that can’t be ignored. They should communicate pain.”

KONRAD LOZINSKI  |  Read More

“I believe that raising the status of animals so that animal issues are on the political agenda is maybe the most important task of the animal rights movement.”

KRISTO MUURIMAA  |  Read More

“I’m certain that future generations will look back at our current attitudes towards and treatment of animals with great shame.”

LOUISE JORGENSEN  |  Read More

“We must respect all species and protect them ferociously because ultimately, all life depends on it. Without the complex web of life, we all die. It’s that simple.”

PAUL HILTON  |  Read More

“I always keep an eye on the animals; their comfort comes first. I don’t want them to get stressed, so I do it fast. There is no room for emotions.”

SABINE GROOTENDORST  |  Read More

“We must always remember that those animals portrayed in the photos will be dead when the public sees them. I feel a big responsibility when I think about that.”

STEFANO BELACCHI  |  Read More

“Freedom has always depended on our ability to identify systems of injustice. I see it as our duty as artists and photographers to make the issues of our time visible.”

TIMO STAMMBERGER |  Read More

Luis Tato
HIDDEN is an essential document for the Anthropocene. Humans are not only killing trillions of animals per year but also contributing to pandemics, climate change, and other global disasters as a result. We need to end this violence, and that starts with bearing witness, so that we can pay out respects and resolve to do better. In showing us such moving images of nonhuman lives and deaths in a human world, this book is brilliant as art, education, and advocacy all at once.
JEFF SEBO, PHILOSOPHER
PROJECT IMPACT | Back to Top

From the beginning, our goal was to share the message of this critical book with as many people as possible. Making visible the animals in this book is one crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to animal justice. HIDDEN additionally serves as a document that gives credibility to the coverage of its subject matter. HIDDEN acts as testimonial and proof and serves as a vehicle for a global conversation about our use of other animals. 

Thanks to the support of our crowdfunding supporters and Publishing Partners, We Animals Media will be sending hundreds of books to people and organizations of influence around the world: politicians, chefs, journalists, podcasters, teachers, NGOs, and global leaders. Our goal is that this collection of difficult photographs will inspire compassion, conversation, and most importantly, change.

At its core, HIDDEN is a global conversation and a call to action. 

View and download the book’s companion PDF, entitled “The Way Forward,” about what’s being done worldwide to help animals, and how we can all take part.

Jo-Anne McArthur
HIDDEN is a strident cry in the darkness of the human soul, which makes one wish from the heart that benevolence and compassion may prevail! Please have a heart and use it with courage and determination, spreading the powerful message of HIDDEN and acting upon it.
Matthieu Ricard – Buddhist monk, photographer, author & humanitarian
FOR MEDIA | Back to Top
Please see our full media kit for HIDDEN here. For specific inquiries regarding interviews and other media opportunities, please email media@weanimals.org

HIDDEN is published by We Animals Media and Lantern Publishing and Media is the global distributor.

HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene

Order Now

Amazon (CAN)  | Lantern (US/Worldwide)  | Deep Books (UK/EUR)  | E-Book  | Signed Copy

Aitor Garmendia