Those who have been aware of my work, and the creation of my travelling community ‘darkroom’ ShutterPod, will know that for more than 10 years I have been devising ways to lessen my photographic environmental impact and encouraging others to do the same.
This has been through processes such as anthotype (where the juice of plants, fruits and veg provide the basis for exposure); through cyanotype (where a mix of two chemicals create a light sensitive solution that can be washed out in the ocean); via my unfixed lumens (where I only use expired photo paper and my personal digital post production technique to mimic ‘fixing’); and various other means such as using natural film developers and salt water fix (making sure any silver is recovered before disposal of water).
For sometime it has felt quite lonesome trying to raise awareness of the opportunities an eco conscious photographic practice can bring. And I am in no way suggesting I have ever influenced the growing curiosity around sustainable photography (although in Cornwall I do know my workshops have helped some to discover a passion for certain eco-aware techniques) but it is fantastic to see the momentum in this element of photography building.
Most recently a new Facebook group popped up called Making Photographic Practices More Sustainable, while other groups such as The Sustainable Darkroom has shared advice about artists working this way, videos and workshops in the past couple of years.
But we do need to remain careful about the claims made when talking about sustainability and eco-friendly in relation to photography.
There will always be a compromise.
For example, if we process film in coffee and fix in saltwater, we mustn’t claim it to be eco-friendly. The film itself is made up with silver (and animal-derived gelatine) and the removed silver in the fix still needs to be safely disposed of. Take a look at the advice from The Parrallax Photographic Co-op. And even with my unfixed lumens there is the fact that the paper includes chemicals while the manufacture of my computer has had an environmental impact in its production.
And how are we classing the sustainable element in relation to photography? How does processing in mint tea or seaweed really make it more sustainable? Is it simply because natural produce minimises the need for manufactured photo chemicals?
Debris Free Ocean has an interesting blog looking at some of the sustainability issues relating to photography, while orgs like Hook Up state that their aim is to build upon a creative and circular economy with photography.
There are so many things to consider when asking yourself if you are a sustainable photography practitioner, from your electronic usage to your waste disposal. It’s well worth auditing your working practices to see what you are doing, and can do, to achieve a more eco-conscious practice.
For me, working in a way that attempts to lessen my impact on our natural resources is my aim. Whether that is keeping my Mac or smartphone for as long as is absolutely possible to making images with the juice of hedgerow blackberries, I know it will always involve compromise but my attitude of always striving to do my best for the environment is sustainable. So in that sense, yes, it is sustainable photography.
I will be launching Photopocene shortly - a place where photographic artists and photographers working to raise awareness of environmental issues and/or in eco-conscious ways will be supported in sharing their own stories. More soon…