Pixel By Pixel | Seyan Hirani | TEDxYouth@BrookhouseSchool

Quick Overview

Seyan Hirani, a 19-year-old photographer and storyteller, shares his personal journey of connecting with wildlife, specifically lions and leopards, through photography, emphasizing that the true power lies not just in seeing but in sharing these stories to foster collective action for conservation, as demonstrated by his impactful images being selected for a global wildlife campaign.

Key Points: Seyan Hirani, a 19-year-old photographer and storyteller, recounts his initial fear of a lion that later transformed into a profound connection. He adopted the Japanese concept of 'Kitsukosharu'—making people aware and caring—as his guiding principle for storytelling. Hirani began selling prints of his wildlife photography, using the proceeds to install lion lights on homesteads bordering Nairobi National Park to protect both humans and animals. His work, which transformed his fear into advocacy, led to two of his images being selected as part of a global campaign supporting conservation organizations. He argues that the true power of photography is not just seeing but showing the world what is at stake, thereby creating a collective responsibility. The talk centers on using visual storytelling to bridge the gap between human communities and wildlife protection efforts.

Context: This video captures a TEDxYouth talk delivered by Seyan Hirani at TEDxYouth@BrookhouseSchool. Hirani, a young photographer and storyteller, shares a formative experience where he overcame fear of a lion to develop a deep sense of connection and responsibility towards wildlife conservation, framing his photographic work as a tool for advocacy based on the Japanese concept of Kitsukosharu.

Detailed Analysis

Seyan Hirani, a 19-year-old photographer and storyteller, opens by recounting a moment of intense fear upon seeing the largest lion he had ever seen walking toward him, which caused his camera to tremble in his hand. This moment, synchronized with the lion's every step, created an immediate connection where he realized the power he held through the lens. He then introduced the Japanese philosophy of 'Kitsukosharu,' which means making people aware and subsequently making them care, using this idea to drive his conservation work. Hirani started selling prints of his photographs, including images of lions and leopards, to fund the installation of 'lion lights' on homesteads bordering Nairobi National Park, aiming to keep both humans and wildlife safe at night. He emphasizes that the power of photography is not just in seeing, but in showing the world what is truly at stake, transforming abstract concepts into tangible realities. He notes that his own portfolio became a reminder to the world that beauty is worth protecting. Years later, this dedication paid off when two of his images were selected as part of a global campaign supporting wildlife conservation organizations, proving the tangible impact of using visual storytelling for a greater purpose. He concludes by urging the audience to join him in writing this new story—one of collective destiny and shared responsibility for the planet and their neighbors.