Why human impact photography?

There is an old adage, “Out of sight out of mind.” which is very relevant in today’s society. There are an infinite number of negative impacts unleashed daily by humans, around the world, on the environment. I fail to understand why we allow such devastation, disrespect and irreversible damage, on our home, primarily for the personal financial gain of a very few individuals at a major cost to the rest of us. Collectively we seem to forget that we are ALL part of this greater system and are therefore each empowered with the right to determine the use of its natural capital. It pains me, for example, to allow multinationals or private logging concessions to destroy the Amazon Rainforest when all life is dependant on that same forest to provide basic life-support services generating oxygen, rain or sequestering carbon. Meanwhile our ‘Out of sight’ oceans are basically trashed. Human impact needs to be addressed. Rather than ignore the damage and threats I choose to document them photographically to bring the issues, vicariously through images, to those mentally or geographically removed from them. There is a butterfly effect – we are all connected.

Clownfish are shown in plastic bags as part of the pet trade. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Laundry is spread on the banks of the Yamuna River in India. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Corpses of sharks lay on the beach. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
The imprint of a human hand can be seen in the pattern made in the sand from a rhinoceros laying down. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A fish is shown underwater that has been caught in a local Papuan net. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Shark corpses are piled on top of each other. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A large amount of garbage floats on the surface of the river by Rio de Janeiro. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A man sits on top of a captive tiger while punching it. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A large collection of snakes lay coiled up in a pile. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
The head of a dolphin caught as bycatch is carried on the shoulder of a man. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Flaming gas burn off stations are shown in the Sacha Oil Block in the Amazon Rainforest. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Countless tire tracks are shown in the dirt and sand of a gold mining site. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A local fish catch is shown on the shore. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Workers spray water on a gold mining site. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Sharks bodies and trucks are spread out over a beach with fisherman going between them all. Photo by conservation photographer and aerial photographer Pete Oxford.
In a market there are three cages of snakes. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Live iguanas meant to be eaten are tied up to a post. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A poached white rhinoceros lies dead on the ground after having its horns severed. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
The severed horn of a poached white rhinoceros is held in the air. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Live iguanas meant for curry are tied up to a wooden pole in Guyana. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A local native Papuan fisherman floats underwater with a spear used for catching fish. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A small fish recently caught by spear fishing is carved. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A huge amount of beach trash is shown underneath a small boat on the beach. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A logging operation is shown with a man standing on top of a large pile of trees. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A lemur sits clinging to a tree in Madagascar with forest destruction in the background. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A ma carries a confiscated poached elephant tusk. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A local Papuan fisherman displays the hawksbill turtle he caught. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Ponds of different color water are shown with roadways between them on a gold mining site. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Yellow-crowned parrots are shown in a cardboard box with a metal cage on top. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Plucked white-throated toucans are shown hanging from a person's hand. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
Confiscated poached ivory sits on shelves along with an automatic rifle. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A dead monkey killed for bush meat is laid on the ground. Photo by conservation photographer Pete Oxford.