What is Anthropocene?
Humans have been around we’ve been around less than 0.1% of the earths lifespan yet human-kind has caused mass extinctions of plant and animal species, polluted the oceans and altered the atmosphere, among other lasting impacts. Our population growing at an average over 200,000 people per day consuming excessive resources we’ve managed to alter more than 50% of the Earth’s Land.
The Anthropocene or ‘The Age of Humans’ represents a segment on the Earths timeline in which includes a rise of fossil fuels as an energy, Industrialization of Agriculture, Urbanization. We associate this time period with the impact that human activity has on the environment and how we have collectively caused a cascade of effects.
Landscape- Unknown Abstract- Unknown Craig McDean– Portraiture
How and why should we tackle Anthropocene through photography?
It’s important that creative subjects such as photography tackle the subject of Anthropocene to express the impact the Humans have on the Earth’s Land as photographs can change behaviour, stimulate understanding and create a sense of urgency that will move people to action. Photography is the universal language that speaks to the heart.
Not everyone wants to pick up a newspaper and read a whole article on how we all might be dead in 15 years time ( dramatic I know ) but images however are everywhere and on social media too. The fact that photography is visual means that it is suitable for all ages and can be interoperated in different ways. Because images hold so much power it is our way of communicating for help.