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May 9, 2023 · Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky discusses his startling and unexpectedly sublime photos – 'an extended lament for the loss of nature' – with Gaia Vince.
Oct 31, 2006 · Edward Burtynsky finds the eerie beauty in the man-made landscapes that dot our Earth’s surface. As a photographer who focuses on the relationship between humans and nature, he travels to the hidden corners of the Earth to document the way people are ravaging our planet.
Dec 7, 2021 · Photo manipulation was soon employed in numerous ways, as early photography had several limitations. Correct exposures in landscape photography often led to the sky being overexposed, for example. To circumnavigate this, photographers combined two images, each section with the correct exposure.
- Overview
- A Shrinking Sea
- Diminished Snowfall
- Reservoir at Risk
- Glacier’s Retreat
- Choked by Drought
- Breaking the Ice
Side-by-side comparisons reveal just how much glaciers, lakes, and snowpacks have been altered by nature and humans.
From the ice sheets of Greenland to the deserts of Arizona, many of the world’s landscapes have been dramatically transformed as their climate grows warmer and drier. At the same time, water use and other human activities have altered many landscapes. NASA has accumulated striking photos that show just how much our surroundings have changed. Slide across each image to see before and after pictures.
The Aral Sea was once the fourth largest lake in the world. Progressively arid conditions and increased irrigation have decimated the lake and the surrounding communities that depend on it. Last year, the eastern basin dried completely.
SOURCE: NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
Snowpack in California’s Sierra Nevada reached the lowest level in recorded history. In response to several years of drought, the state mandated water restrictions for the first time. California reservoirs depend heavily on annual snowmelt to meet its water demands.
SOURCE: JESSE ALLEN, NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
Lake Mead, which depends on snowmelt from the Rockies, has seen its water levels plummet due to drought and increased demand. The lake’s elevation has dropped by 120 feet, putting the Las Vegas Valley at risk because it depends on the reservoir for 90 percent of its water.
SOURCE: JOSHUA STEVENS, NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
Yosemite National Park’s Lyell Glacier has receded tremendously over the last century, exposing swaths of bedrock underneath. Because of their sensitivity to the environment, glaciers are vital barometers of climate change.
SOURCE: ISRAEL RUSSELL, USGS; KEENAN TAKAHASHI, NPS
Decreased snowmelt from the Rockies severely reduced water levels in Arizona’s Lake Powell, affecting those who depend on it for water. Periodic droughts have become steadily more common. This year, the reservoirs were only at 45 percent capacity.
SOURCE: NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
The retreat of the Zachariæ Isstrøm glacier in Greenland has accelerated since 2012, dumping tons more ice into the Northern Atlantic every year. Experts fear the swift rate of the melting will have a tremendous impact on rising sea levels.
SOURCE: JESSE ALLEN, NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
Apr 7, 2015 · Human beings have replaced nature as the dominant force shaping Earth. We’ve cleared away forests, dammed up mighty rivers, paved vast roads, and transported thousands of species around the world.
Nov 7, 2019 · Anthem, the latest installment of Doug Fogelson’s series Chemical Alterations uses chemically altered photographs of nature to comment on climate change and the destruction of the earth.
Dec 1, 2021 · Recently exhibited at London's Grove Square Galleries, the Eremozoic series features digitally retouched images of wildlife in bright pink and blue landscapes. The juxtaposition of these...
