How can complex issues be photographed?
‘Amazonian Dystopia’ by Lalo de Almeida (@lalodealmeida) documented between 2013 and 2021, sheds light on the variety of consequences that the exploitation of the Amazon has had in recent years (see the first comment for individual captions).
Long-term projects are shot in a minimum of three years, which allows photographers to capture the multiple layers and dimensions behind complex issues.
The threat that the Amazon is facing has environmental, economic, social, and political ramifications. Pollution from gold mining and soil erosion following deforestation have led to uncontrollable wildfires which have pushed indigenous communities away from their territories and damaged their soil, making them more dependent on industrialized food. At the same time, workers arriving in the Amazon for employment on infrastructure projects has led to an increase in illegal activities, violence, and a strain on resources in towns. Overall this project shows that complex issues need to be studied and documented for long periods of time in order to paint an accurate and complete picture of such situations.
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In what other ways can complex issues be photographed? Let us know in the comments.
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