AP Photography Portfolio
FIRE and ICE
Artist statement
Last year, my family and I went to Iceland for spring break. I had always seen pictures on instagram and wanted to go to experience the natural beauty. I did not predict how much this trip would change my perspective on the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been aware of environmental issues such as littering, pollution, climate change, and overpopulation, however, these issues had been taught to me by teachers, family, and the media. Growing up near a large city, you see all of these problems but become numb to them since they are essentially part of daily life. When in Iceland, I finally was able to see what life could be like if we lived in a progressive, environmentally continuous way. We saw endless valleys with wild horses roamed, we saw beautiful glaciers which produced clean fresh water for the citizens, we saw hot springs that were used to produce energy and warm water, and we saw untouched land for nature to flourish. Upon my return to Washington DC, I never saw my home the same way.
Throughout my sustained investigation, I focused on three questions. How has the world changed since the human race? Has anthropogenic development gone too far? And lastly, Would the world be better off without humans? I think the answers to all of these questions are quite clear. During my investigation, I experimented with different types of media, overlaying techniques, and blending skills to achieve an image that represented the specific issue that I was trying to create through abstract depictions. I felt that the most effective way to show the drastic impact of our actions was to show a naked picture of nature contrasting the manipulated version that I had created.
Throughout my sustained investigation, I focused on three questions. How has the world changed since the human race? Has anthropogenic development gone too far? And lastly, Would the world be better off without humans? I think the answers to all of these questions are quite clear. During my investigation, I experimented with different types of media, overlaying techniques, and blending skills to achieve an image that represented the specific issue that I was trying to create through abstract depictions. I felt that the most effective way to show the drastic impact of our actions was to show a naked picture of nature contrasting the manipulated version that I had created.
PHOTO 1: "Fire and Ice" : shows global warming
PHOTO 2: "Above and Below" : represents the forest fires and melting glaciers
PHOTO 3: :Light Pollution" : shows the effects of light pollution on our night skies
PHOTO 4: "Goodbye Glaciers" : represents how the thinning of Ozone is melting glaciers
PHOTO 5: "Smog" : shows how humans destroy natural habitats to make factories and cities that ruin the air quality
PHOTO 6: "Liter" :represents the impact of non-biodegradable trash on our ecosystems
PHOTO 7: "Forest Fire" : specifically focuses on first fires and the impact on those biomes
PHOTO 8: "Overpopulated" : shows the how humans have hotspots of human development but impacts everywhere
PHOTO 9: "H2O" : represents the water levels rising
PHOTO 10: "Apocalypse" : shows what will happen if no changes are made
PHOTO 2: "Above and Below" : represents the forest fires and melting glaciers
PHOTO 3: :Light Pollution" : shows the effects of light pollution on our night skies
PHOTO 4: "Goodbye Glaciers" : represents how the thinning of Ozone is melting glaciers
PHOTO 5: "Smog" : shows how humans destroy natural habitats to make factories and cities that ruin the air quality
PHOTO 6: "Liter" :represents the impact of non-biodegradable trash on our ecosystems
PHOTO 7: "Forest Fire" : specifically focuses on first fires and the impact on those biomes
PHOTO 8: "Overpopulated" : shows the how humans have hotspots of human development but impacts everywhere
PHOTO 9: "H2O" : represents the water levels rising
PHOTO 10: "Apocalypse" : shows what will happen if no changes are made