C. G. (Carl Georg) Schillings

Born in Düren-Gürzenich in 1865 and dying in Berlin in 1921, Carl Georg Schillings was a German photographer, explorer, hunter, conservation advocate, and nonfiction writer. Reference works consistently describe him as an author as well as a pioneer of wildlife photography, especially for his work in East Africa.

Schillings became widely known for combining close observation of animals with dramatic photographs made under difficult field conditions. His books, including Mit Blitzlicht und Büchse and the English-language In Wildest Africa, introduced many readers to African wildlife at a time when such images and firsthand descriptions were still rare.

What makes his work especially interesting today is that it sits at the crossroads of adventure writing, natural history, and early conservation. His career reflects both the excitement and the contradictions of his era: he was celebrated for documenting animals and advocating their protection, while also working as a big-game hunter and collector.