Mother Nature Calling

 The roots of this image go back to 2017. I was originally shooting for a project that involved a larger group of teens. I had each of them chose a cause they wanted to create an image around. I decided to use one of the images we created for the Utopia Rising series because even though the image was created years ago and never published, the timing couldn't be better. The need for messages around environmentally friendly practices is more urgent than ever.

 Nicole, the model in this image, knew she wanted to create something addressing climate awareness. She asked for my creative input, so we collaborated on a story together. We created a story around a disinterested teen absorbed in the virtual word of her phone, completely unaware of the state of the environment around her. The message was that we should be paying attention to the natural beauty, abundance and miraculous life around us before it's gone.

 For thousands of years, humans have been nurtured by our environment. Without it, we would not exist. It is our most precious resource and yet, it's the one we take most for granted. The earth has given us food and shelter. It has given us a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, and a home. We are what we are today because of how the earth has shaped us. The earth has always been our mother. Indigenous peoples have long recognized and celebrated this, but modern society is forgetting. Technology distracts us from what is real and tangible. It makes us forget, and it changes our expectations of what we 'need' to be happy. The ease of technology and what it provides has made us complacent and self absorbed. It has made us view things as disposable and easily replaceable.  It seems the more we have, the more we want and the more we think we need. Instead of being grateful and happy for the small things, many of us only see what others have that we don't have. It's not only detrimental to our overall happiness and satisfaction in life, but it has created a tremendous strain on the planet as human population continues to increase.

Mother Nature Calling illustrates a 'wake up call', a call to action. In the image, a wildfire rages outside a broken down building. The state of the building alludes to a sense of disrepair, abandonment, a scarcity of resources paired with a disregard for such resources. The wildfire is a reminder of what has sadly become commonplace in many parts of the country. Nicole is wearing fashionable shoes and a mink coat, further illustrating participation in a 'disposable' mindset and a lack of awareness to what is happening around her. In the rubble around her, a plant is growing in spite of the difficult conditions. A toad sits on her shoulder, as if ready to whisper a message in her ear. From the earth, an old school phone emerges and Nicole listens intently to the message that is given.

 Our modern lifestyle makes it difficult to live without having some impact on the environment, and it can be overwhelming just thinking about it. Everything we do leaves a footprint, but we can make that footprint much less impactful if we choose. We all have small changes we could adopt that can make a big difference for the planet. Even small changes can add up to big results, but we must first make a conscious effort to adopt change. One environmentally friendly habit can lead to other healthy habits, and we might just find that we become happier during the journey as well. 

 What are some small changes you could make to your lifestyle to lessen your impact on climate change? Have you already made some changes? Let's learn from each other and share some ideas in the comments below.

 I am open to collaboration with social and environmentally conscious people and companies, so drop me a message with your ideas if you'd like to collaborate.

Credits:

Mother Nature Calling: Melanie Myhre

Model, hair and makeup : Nicole Morrison

Gear: Canon 6D, Sigma 85mm, Molight AD360.