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

Growing up in a coal-mining town, I directly experienced the impact of resource extraction on the environment and local population. Now, as I confront the impact of climate change on the places I photograph, I have come to question both photography’s reliance on heavy metals and my own artistic practice and its carbon footprint. Gradually, I shifted my focus from constant production to exploring other ways to connect with the environment and artistic community. In 2023, during the residency "Walking as Practice" at BKN Konstnod in Björkö, Sweden, I experienced how walking can be a distinct way to understand the environment and rethink the systems we inhabit.

"Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World" is an evolving collection of images from my walks in 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 deepens my connection to my surroundings and makes the process as significant as the outcome. The results are wildly unpredictable. This has taught me to shift from a mindset of control to one of allowing the landscape to express its voice. Gradually, I have embraced the unexpected and welcomed the lessons revealed with each discovery.