‘Shifting Focus’ explores the fragility of the natural world, from the Arctic Circle to Australia’s Byron Bay. In a showcase of drone photography by student photographer Luke Letchford, this exhibition provides a unique perspective on the interdependence of humans and nature. Using aerial photography to access areas inaccessible on foot, Letchford highlights the pervasive impacts of human activity in some of the world’s most remote regions. On the 8th February, from 13:00-15:30, join us in Stowe School’s Art Block exhibition space, to explore lessons from a fragile earth.​​​​​
WHEN EARTH SPEAKS
ETNA, SICILY
Looming over Sicilian villages, you would be forgiven for thinking the residents of Sicily would live in fear of Mount Etna. After all, eruptions and lava flows from the volcano have a dark history of destroying human settlements and Etna has a daily impact on local air quality. Yet residents have a strong pride for their mountain - even referring to themselves as “Etnei” or “Etneans”.
In truth, the volcano has provided fertile lands perfect for agriculture. It’s also helped attract a booming tourist economy. Together with potential for geothermal energy, Mount Etna can be considered a great example of our symbiosis with the environment.
ONE WITH
THE WATER
​​
This water might look crystal clear but our oceans are no longer the pristine environment they once were. Every day around 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans. The impact is devistating - 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution every year. Surfing, too, has environmental impacts - the construction process of traditional surfboards utilising unsustainable materials and popular surfing spot experiencing increased coastal erosion and damage to reef ecosystems.
BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA
DISAPPEARING BEACHES
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
Climate change is having a significant impact on coastlines around the world. The Gold Coast can expect an increase in storms as well as changes to it’s famous wave climate, which can cause erosion.
Our changing climate is also causing sea levels to rise, contributing to erosion and shoreline recession. Without proactive management, beach width across Gold Coast beaches will decrease, particularly during higher tides and storm surge events. Significant data is collected to monitor beaches.
WHERE PINES ONCE STOOD
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
The areas of the UK which we now consider “nature” are, in truth, heavily manecured agricultural landscapes. In Scotland, where 70% of the country was once covered in forest, just 1% of the native pinewood trees remain. The result is the collapse of a once thriving ecosystem. Extensive pastoral farming takes place where Lynx, wolves, deer, bears, elk, beavers and wild boar once roamed.
SHIFTING SEASONS
CHURCHILL, CANADA
Polar bears like this one rely on sea ice to hunt and store energy for the summer and Autumn. With sea ice melting earlier in Spring and forming later in the year, polar bear health is declining. Unhealthy bears can mean lower reproduction rates, higher cub mortality – and eventually, local extinction. The population of polar bears in this area of Canada dropped by 27% from 2016 to 2021. Populations of walrus, seal, narwhal, arctic fox and whale are also suffering.
LOST AT SEA
CHURCHILL, CANADA
​This water might look crystal clear but our oceans are no longer the pristine environment they once were. Every day around 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans. The impact is devistating - 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution every year. Surfing, too, has environmental impacts - the construction process of traditional surfboards utilising unsustainable materials and popular surfing spot experiencing increased coastal erosion and damage to reef ecosystems.
A FRAGILE BALANCE
BRAVARIA, MOUNTAIN LAKE
As global tourism recovers to pre-pandemic levels, we are increasingly looking for ways in which we can see the world without destroying it. 83% of travelers say that traveling more sustainably is important to them and as a result, the ecotourism industry has been growing rapidly. This sustainable tourism supports the fauna, flora, and local economy. It is sensitive to the environment, local culture and traditions and benefits humans living in the surrounding area. Innovative approaches like these are increasingly important.
ERUPTION
& EMISSION
ETNA, SICILY
Few things can make one appreciate the incredible power of nature more than a volcanic eruption. And yet human activies release over 60x more carbon emissions each year than all volcanic activity on Earth. It’s no wonder, therefore, that scientists have come to term this period the “Anthropocene”, as our species has become the most powerful force on this planet.
PARADISE LOST
BIG ISLAND, HAWAII
For millions of years, organisms evolved in isolation on the Hawaiian islands, resulting in over 25,000 unique species. As such, Hawaii is one of the most biologically diverse regions on the planet and scientists refer to it as a “Biodiversity Hotspot”.
However, globally biodiversity is dramatically declining with over 1 million species at risk of extinction. Scientists estimate that human actions have raised the extinction rate by between 1,000 and 10,000x. Hawaii is said to be at the forefront of this extinction crisis, dubbed by some as the “Extinction capital of the world”. 71 of 113 native Hawaiian bird species are now extinct.
Hawaii faces rising temperatures, warming oceans, damaged coral reefs, increased ocean acidity, decreasing precipitation and reduced freshwater availability. For all of these reasons, Hawaii can be considered a microcosm of worldwide ecosystem collapse.
THE COST
OF THE
CATCH
NGAWI, NEW ZEALAND
Globally, fisheries are removing fish from the oceans at a faster rate than they can reproduce. This results in depleted populations, decline of ecosystem stability and limited food sources for marine life and communities around the world. Scientists estimate that 75% of the world’s fisheries are either fully exploited, overexploited or have collapsed and only 1% is recovering from depletion.
Research estimates that we have removed 90% of the large predatory fish such as shark, cod, dolphins and tuna from our world’s oceans. These large fish species are long-lived and slow to reproduce making their populations exceptionally vulnerable to overfishing practices. The state of global fisheries is threatening food supplies, economies and recreation in all parts of the world.
