The future for the environment may be unsure but as long as there are environmental photographers working hard to ensure that we know what is happening we will be okay.

There are many things that we can do as consumers, we can stop buying from polluting corporations, cut back overall consumption, and make more conscious sustainable choices. Additionally, we can educate ourselves. By looking at these photos and reading the stories behind them we can connect ourselves to people all around the world.

I think that as climate change becomes more prominent so will environmental photography. Showing statistics and figures can be helpful but showing images of real people serves a much deeper emotional purpose. When looking at the pictures you evoke something – a human connection.

Whereas the first forms of environmental photography focused on nature and lacked human emotion the current form of environmental photography heavily focuses on human emotion and our connection to the environment around us.

I believe that in the future environmental photography will focus on humans more and more and show the contrast between us and the environment. As individuals living in the United States we are separated from climate change and the harsh realities of it but by seeing these pictures we are able to understand and get a look into other peoples worlds.

The Stark Contrast

 

Modern Environmental Photography

Past Nature (Landscape) Photography

The contrast between these two photos is obvious. The original “environmental” photography aimed to showcase the natural beauty of the world and wanted people to appreciate the world around us. Today environmental photographs serve a much more powerful purpose, to educate the public on the consequences of climate change. When environmental photography first came into the “mainstream media” climate change was not such a pressing issue and there was no need for mass education just mass appreciation. However, we are currently facing a crisis and these images are helping to spread awareness. I know that they are difficult to look at but nothing is more important than education at a time like this.

As previously mentioned environmental photography has transformed greatly throughout the years. When it began it focused on the “nature” aspect of photography. The majority of the photos all show natural landscapes and highlight the best of what this planet has to offer.

Today environmental photography focuses on the degradation of the environment and environmental crisis. Many environmental photographers choose to make their focal point an individual in the midst of disaster. As climate change becomes more prominent we need to find a way to put out this information and to persuade people that there is an imminent danger.

While doing research there were images that were hard to look at but I felt were necessary to show. There is no easy way to face climate change and by ignoring it we are not doing ourselves or the planet any favors. While things may seem dire these environmental photographers are doing all they can to spread awareness, and as consumers of media, we too can do the same.

The following images are ones that profoundly moved me and I’m hoping they can do the same for you too.

 

 

 

 

Environmental photography began as nature & landscape photography which focused on capturing the beauty of the world. While today we think of environmental photography as capturing the current state of the environment and environmental degradation it is still important to acknowledge the photographers who started it all.

Many of these photographers are well known for their ability to capture the natural beauty of the world around us.

Ansel Adams (1902 -1984)

Michael Kenna (1953-present) 

Nadav Kander (1961-present) 

Sebastião Salgado (1944-present)

Brett Weston (1911-1933) 

Franco Fontana (1933-present) 

Takeshi Mizukoshi (1938-present) 

David Brookover (1954-present) 

Galen Rowell (1940-2002) 

Carr Clifton (1957-present) 

 

The modern environmental movement happened at different times in all parts of the world. However, in the United States, it began in the 1960s and focused on a few main environmental disasters that were happening at this time.

Environmentalism involves many different movements and does not embody one sole issue. All policies local, state, and federal are impacted by the environmental movement. Environmental concerns are becoming more prominent within the American population especially within the past 50 years.

There were many reasons that the environmental movement began in America and some of the main reasons were due to the growing concern over hydrogen bomb testing, and the reoccurring oil spills off the coast of California. One of the more well-known reasons for the creation of the modern environmental movement is the use of insecticides and other chemicals. Rachel Carson (a Chatham alum) became famous for writing about the harmful effects of DDT and published her book Silent Spring 

As previously mentioned, the environmental movement had many different aspects but one of the main components was the growing concern over water and air pollution. The 1970s brought about a different era of environmentalism. The Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1970 by President Nixon. The Clean Water Act of 1972 brought a basic framework for water regulations in the US, and the Clean Air Act of 1970 focused on the control of air pollution.

While the environmental movement today looks different and focuses on the impending dread of Climate Change, the socio-economic-environmental justice, and corporate social responsibility there are still aspects that go back to the beginning of the movement.

History of Environmental Photography

When beginning to discuss environmental photography it is important to discuss conservation photography. Many historians believe environmental & conservation photography go hand in hand, however, it is clear that conservation photography came first.

Conservation photography is the ideal of photojournalism with the hope for conservation outcomes. This first came into popular use during the 1860s when Yosemite National Park was founded (1864). This idea of conservation photography was used to persuade individuals that the National Parks were a necessity.

Some of the most famous early conservation photographers were Carleton E. Watkins who was previously mentioned and Ansel Adams.

Conservation photography became vital during the conservation and preservation movements.

The conservation and preservation movement began in 1890  and lasted well through the 1920s. The ideas held within this movement were that we must protect America’s wildlife, land, and other natural resources so that they will be around for many centuries.

During this time period, there were many key advocates for this movement and one of the most prominent was President Theodore Roosevelt. He became president in 1901 and soon after used his authority to create 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks, and 18 national monuments (all of this spanned over 230 million acres of public land).

“There is a delight in the hardy life of the open. There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm. The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as . assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impared in value” – Teddy Roosevelt (1910)

The old conservation/preservation movement look a lot different than today’s environmental movements. Conservation photography that was once popular looks nothing like today’s environmental photography. All of this is due to the fact that today’s environmental photography comes out of a dire necessity. Today we need to educate and warn people on the adverse effects of climate change. However, conservation photography was originally born out of the idea that we need to take the time to appreciate the world around us.

History of Environmental Photography

The modern-day environmental movement began in the 1960s & 1970s. The environmental movement was born out of growing concern over recent environmental disasters of that time such as oil spills and the increasing use of insecticides. One of the most prominent opponents of the use of pesticides was Rachel Carson, who helped to modernize & popularize the environmental movement.

 “It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.”

– Rachel Carson

Arguably the first instance of “modern” environmental photography would be the world-famous photo of the earth, as this was the first time many people were seeing our planet in its entirety. This caused many people to introspect and evaluate how we as humans treat the planet. This image alone caused many people to join the environmental movement, and projected environmental photography into the future.

Today as we face more prominent consequences of climate change environmental activism & environmental photography have transformed, and are widely known amongst people.