When It Rains

I am deeply concerned about the effects of Climate Change on our planet. Photography enables me to show the physical, social, geographical and psychological impacts of climate change. Currently one in seven people in New Zealand live in areas at high risk of flooding. Recently New Zealand has been hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle and the aftermath has devastated entire communities. I experienced first-hand the extent of the devastation which was heart breaking, from personal stories to the actual physical impact. I use myself as the protagonist in many of my images, to illustrate the courage communities will have to muster to cope with re-building their lives after they have literally lost everything including their entire homes, irreplaceable family heirlooms, pets, crops, their land and potential years of future income through having to replant their crops. For some individuals the emotional strain will simply be too much and the outlook is bleak. Through this series I hope the viewer takes a moment to reflect on the devastating effects of displacing vulnerable communities and the accompanying mental health issues. I often use the imagery of shooting through rainy glass to symbolize the current unpredictability of the world-wide weather patterns. By emphasizing the fragility and the beauty of our planet, I hope to encourage the viewer to become more conscious of their actions and the impact they have on our environment. It is my ambition to use my art as a platform to progress conversations around climate change and to make people more conscious of their choices in order to create a more sustainable future.