These breathtaking aerial shots show climate change from a new perspective
A new exhibition sees world-class photographers turning rivers, mountains and ice into studies of a warming planet
Photography has a powerful way of conveying the changes happening in our world, especially when captured from a high vantage point. This perspective was instrumental in sparking the modern ecological movement with the famous Earthrise photo from the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The new exhibition, Extinction: Renewal, Art of a Living Planet, opening at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, explores this theme through photography, film, and sculpture across four themed areas: Extinction, Climate, Community, and Renewal.
The exhibition presents a journey from centuries past into a hopeful future, focusing on the current state of the world rather than what it was or how we wish it to be. Many of the photographs emphasize the importance of gaining altitude to truly see things as they are. For instance, Daniel Beltrá's aerial shot of Iceland's Hvíta River exhibits the river's blues and golds, formed by glacial meltwater and sediment, appearing as an abstract painting.
Seventeen-year-old Sebastião Salgado's infrared image of Alaska's Brooks Range reveals the mountain range and river system in a single, awe-inspiring composition. Paul Nicklen's drone photograph of a polar bear on sea ice removes human elements, spotlighting the bear as a single white shape against a crack in the ice, which heightens its vulnerability against larger forces.
Photographer Richard Mosse goes further by using infrared photography, rendering vegetation red and water black. This choice gives the image an editorial quality, separating it from mere objectivity. The exhibition's key takeaway is that while the images are beautiful, the focus isn't solely on aesthetics or the novelty of using drones. Instead, it's about revealing broader patterns and deeper truths by capturing small details from a unique perspective.
The exhibition encourages photographers to step back, gain altitude, and see things from a wider viewpoint. This approach can tell a different story, and it's particularly relevant in the context of the show's focus on solutions and a positive vision for the future rather than doom and gloom. The exhibition runs from September 17 to January 3 at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
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