Illuminating Our Connection to the Planet Through Striking Photography
Based in Los Angeles, multimedia artist Kevin Cooley has spent the past decade capturing images of fires - both controlled and wild. Cooley's work aims to highlight our relationship with the environment and the effects of climate change.
"I photograph these catastrophes and try to make them almost beautiful, because that's how you can bring attention to them," said Cooley. His work includes photographing the "forest fires" near his California home, the "sewage leaks" in Colorado, and the decaying "reservoirs" in Arizona.
Cooley concentrates on the elements Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, which he enhances using light sources, either actively or passively by using objects such as flying airplanes. He believes that light imparts significance to ordinary objects and situations, highlighting them and making them stand out.
In his photo series "Controlled Burn," Cooley used strobe lighting to freeze the movement of pyrotechnic smoke into eerie sculptures, creating a statement about our desire to control nature. However, in recent years, Cooley has been drawn to another element with less risk.
Cooley said that in 2021, he had a traumatic experience with the Caldo Fire in California and decided that he might photograph the flames less frequently, as it was both exhausting and always accompanied by smoke. At the same time, California was experiencing drought, sparking Cooley's interest in photographing water.
Cooley used lamps, flash guns, and even drones to capture long-exposure photos of the ocean and highlight the rise and fall of tides and currents. Cooley sees the ocean as an ally in the fight against climate change, with its carbon-sequestering capabilities and the potential energy from waves.
"We need to use it so that we find a good balance between what humans need and what the planet can tolerate, to ensure that there is room for humans," said Cooley. "
Related Articles
Cooley's photographic style focuses on capturing the dynamic relationship between natural elements and human communities, particularly in the context of wildfires. His work is characterized by its ecological perspective, symbolic composition, and personal emotional connection to the subjects he photographs.
Source:
[^Image-1]: The element of fire is personal to Cooley, who nearly lost his home to a fire in 2017. The Los Angeles County Bobcat Fire burns in the distance in the background in this image. 2020 was one of the largest wildfire seasons in California's history. Cooley aims to make these disasters "almost beautiful," he said, because that's how you can bring attention to them.
[^Image-2]: Cooley's interest in water was sparked by California's extreme drought. This photograph showcases the powerful mechanics of the ocean and reveals our deeper connection to the earth as humanity's friend in the fight against climate change.
