Photography Thesis 

As an environmentalist, nature lover, and mother, I am deeply concerned about the future world that awaits my children and future generations. Global warming, environmental degradation, overpopulation, and the depletion of fossil fuels present extreme threats to our planet. The issue is urgent, as our actions today dictate what kind of world our children will inherit. This environmental photography project combines real-world scenarios and staged settings to address these issues and the fragility of nature. Through my series of 10 images, I aim to highlight critical environmental concerns such as habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change, while emphasizing the beauty of nature and the need to protect it. I wanted to represent environmental photography through conceptual storytelling, using a combination of real-world scenarios and staged indoor settings. I wanted to create a visual narrative highlighting urgent problems facing our planet, focusing on their impact on wildlife and human life. The project incorporates documentary and staged photography, allowing me to blend reality and symbolism to convey the story I aim to tell. I chose to focus on environmental issues because they are central to my identity as an environmentalist and a mother. As someone deeply concerned about the future of our planet, I wanted to raise awareness about the consequences of human actions and the importance of protecting nature. The climate crisis, pollution, habitat loss, and overpopulation are issues that often go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of daily life, yet they have profound implications for future generations. This project allowed me to convey these issues through the lens of photography, creating images that provoke thought and inspire action. My series features a mix of natural and staged scenes. The subjects range from real-life wildlife, such as butterflies or bird nests, to toy animals symbolizing the impacts of environmental degradation. By combining real-world scenarios, such as a bird nesting in a telephone pole or a fish made from cigarette butts, with staged indoor scenes, I aim to represent the delicate balance of nature and the damaging effects of human activities. These subjects are photographed in ways that highlight their vulnerability and the urgent need for environmental protection. I used lighting techniques and props to create contrast and focus on my images. In several photographs, such as the butterfly and the toy turtle in a plastic bag, I used focused lighting to highlight the subject while casting dramatic shadows to evoke a sense of urgency. By using light and shadow, I drew attention to the fragility of nature and the need for its protection. In addition, I employed close-up shots and shallow depth of field in many of the images, allowing the viewer to focus on the environmental issues portrayed in each scene. I photographed my subjects in this manner to evoke a sense of fragility, urgency, and loss. By using light, composition, and symbolism, I aimed to convey the destructive impact of human actions on the natural world. For example, in the photograph titled "Plastic Trap," a toy turtle is trapped in a plastic bag, symbolizing the dangers of plastic pollution to marine life. Similarly, in "Silent Invader," English ivy overtakes multiple trees, representing the damage caused by invasive species. These scenes were intentionally staged to provoke thought and emotional response, encouraging viewers to reflect on the environmental issues being addressed. The title of my series, "The Fragility of Nature and Our Responsibility to Protect It," reflects the core message I aim to convey that nature is fragile, and we must protect it before it is too late. Each image in the series tells a part of this story, illustrating various threats that nature faces and how we can choose to continue to destroy or protect it.