Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World

“in this moment, is it still possible to face the gathering darkness and say to the physical Earth, and to all its creatures, including ourselves, fiercely and without embarrassment, I love you, and to embrace fearlessly the burning world?” Berry Lopez

I have been fortunate to live and work in some of Earth’s most remote, stunningly beautiful, and ecologically fragile environments. Inevitably, as I confronted the impact of climate change on the places I photograph, I began to question my artistic practice and its carbon footprint. I found it increasingly challenging to engage in my work without addressing issues such as the use of harmful single-use chemicals, excessive packaging for shipping materials, the limited lifespan of digital equipment, or unnecessary printing.

This reflection prompted a gradual transformation in my approach. I started to shift my focus from production to exploring alternative ways of connecting with the environment and a broader artistic community. In 2023, while participating in the artist residency "Walking as Practice" at BKN Konstnod in Björkö, Sweden, I fully experienced how walking can serve as a distinct mode of understanding and interpreting the environment, as well as a process for rethinking and critiquing the social and ecological systems we inhabit.

"Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World" is an evolving collection of images I captured during my many walks in my home state of Alaska. It also marks my first venture into plant-based development—a more sustainable approach to analog black-and-white photography. Foraging for local plants fosters a deeper understanding and connection to my surroundings, making the process as significant as the outcome; the two become indelibly linked. The results can be wildly unpredictable, which has taught me to transition from a mindset of control to one of allowing the landscape to express its distinct voice. Gradually, I have come to embrace the unexpected and welcome the lessons that the landscape reveals with each discovery.