Loren Nelson
Artist Statement
If you want to learn what someone fears losing, watch what they photograph. - Anonymous
This quote resonates with my approach to photographing, especially in recent years, as threats to our environment are becoming more and more apparent. For many years I have been content to make carefully composed photographs that celebrate the beauty of our natural world. But currently, I feel an urgency to photograph elements of nature that are in observable danger of disappearing and work to preserve them for future generations. These glowing, plastic-draped mountains suggest snow-capped mountains and glacier-filled valleys but are erosion control and moisture protection measures. Plastic is a ubiquitous material found in the deepest seas, and even at the 27,700-foot level of Mount Everest. These photographs reflect how plastic surrounds us, both literally and figuratively, and will threaten animals, birds, and humans for generations. Therefore, these images may signify our future reality as glacial ice sheets recede in the wake of global climate change, leaving a thin layer of plastic that will remain for centuries.
Loren Nelson| Beaverton, OR