Issues and the Photographs

The photographs aim to show my dedication to the natural environment by focusing on two projects in Miami, Florida, related to climate change issues. Coastal cities built on a swamp like Miami are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change for several reasons. Warmer air holds more water and is causing heavier rains, which together with sea level rise is causing more flooding. The flooding is made worse as the blue ocean ecosystems (discussed below) are diminishing. One of their contributions is to impede flooding. In addition, there is extensive groundwater flooding because Miami's limestone foundation is like a sponge and is unusually close to the surface, sometimes just two feet down. This means there isn't much space to soak up rain and storm runoff. As sea level rises (in Miami, over eight inches in the last 30 years), so do the groundwater and the high tides. King Tides are the highest natural tides of the year, usually happening in the fall during full or new moons. Flooding from King Tides often happens on sunny days. The combination of King Tides, shallow groundwater, and rising sea levels is causing sunny-day flooding further inland and will lead to more flooding in the future. The increasing population in Miami makes these problems even worse, threatening both the people and the coastal environment.

The two photographic projects are:

·       One project showcases Miami's blue ocean ecosystems. “Blue” refers to the wet, ocean, and aquatic plants, as compared with the “green” land-based plants. Ocean ecosystems, also called blue carbon ecosystems, because they capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for hundreds of years and more effectively than green ecosystems (see Ocean Ecosystems: A Primer). These photos are in black and white to make the beautiful but threatened landscapes appear more dramatic. The color photos in this series remind us of human threats to the environment, such as from burning of fossil fuels (see Photos of Ocean Ecosystems).

·       The second project illustrates the pervasive issue of sunny-day flooding. Photos of water reflections create an echo effect of the land that is being or soon to be submerged. Photos with wading birds remind us that wildlife depends on this threatened natural environment. Presently, during King Tides, the tide can rise by an extra foot, causing breaches in retaining structures and inland flooding (see Photos of Flooding).

Blue ecosystems, in addition to capturing and storing carbon dioxide, are a critical link between these two projects in that flooding is made worse because they are diminishing. Furthermore, flooding reduces the ability of blue ecosystems to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The hope is that the beauty captured will help combat future environmental damage and feelings of hopelessness about climate change. The optimism is that these images will encourage people to take actions to lessen climate change, such as protecting and preserving blue ocean ecosystems (see Protect and Preserve). 

Technical note: Some photographs were taken with neutral density filters to allow for a slow shutter speed; these can evoke the shimmering water characteristic of Impressionist paintings of the late 19th century.