TITLE: Today's Reality

As I stood watching the endless throng of people navigating their way through The Narrows of Zion Canyon, the reality of our impact on this planet struck home. Even in a place as regulated as Zion National Park, the strain of human interference was clearly visible. I stopped photographing the canyon and began searching for an image that would tell the story of our natural places. I started by photographing the many people moving about the canyon, but none seemed to have any impact on my emotions. Standing against a side wall to let another group pass, I noticed a pool of water trapped on an embankment and made my way to it. The pool, cut off from the flow of the Virgin River, was covered by a layer of algae. A few leaves had fallen and become trapped within the algae. These leaves would slowly be consumed until the ceased to exist. I stood there looking at the leaves for a few long minutes realizing the powerful metaphor to our planet as a whole. We as humans are numerous and have spread rapidly across most of the planet, consuming many natural places in the process. The leaf in this image is a symbol of our natural world, and the algae represent humanity; slowly, methodically, and effectively eradicating nature. To me, this image speaks of the struggle our planet has against humanity and the urgent need for change before we engulf what remains.

AUTHOR: Andrew Lockwood (United States)

Andrew Lockwood is an outdoor photographer who delights in photographing the natural world around him. It is his hope that his images will instill a sense of respect for the natural world that surrounds each and every one of us. His passion for photography has taken him around the United States.