Humans are significantly contributing to the sixth mass extinction in Earth's history. Showing the fragility of life on Earth by representing endangered species using the historic wet collodion process; one that is also fragile and requires great care. My hope is that through the photographs, the viewer may enjoy the animal itself and consider the situation that it may be enduring such as: deforestation, loss of habitat, polluted environments, and human threats. Exposing a wet plate must happen fast, as it cannot dry before the exposure is taken. The sense of urgency needed for this photographic process is a metaphor for the rapid pace of endangerment and extinction of these animals. The future of these animals relies on others to tell their story as ambassadors and advocates. I consider myself to be serving as an Endangered Animal Ambassador, as I gather information, statistics, and analysis to increase awareness around the shrinking populations of our planet’s biodiversity. By utilizing a photographic process that is itself, is making a comeback in much the same way I hope some of these animals can as well. I aim to bring recognition that the world is not static and our actions as a collectively destructive species have dramatic consequences that result in the need for interventions far beyond a photograph.
