Human Nature
The more I think about it, the more I want to do something. But the more I think about it, the more helpless I feel. At the start of the COVID-19 lockdowns I decided I'd create something to try and spread the message - utilising the skills I have.
If you want a thought-provoking conversation piece, these are available to buy as prints, or downloads.
They're all created using my photos for the surfing aspect, with free stock from Unsplash or Pixabay, to create the pollution.
Human Nature: Industrial Surfer
This image is built from a photo I took at my local, Cayton Bay, on the east coast of England. I merged it with this image by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash and made some changes to the general mood and tone, giving a final image which doesn't look too far away from reality.
There’s also, little easter egg for those who look closely enough… the surfer on the shoulder is wearing a gas mask - you might have to zoom in to see it. This is also a free stock image from Unsplash and was shot by Paulo Silva.
Human Nature: Sewage Surfer
Many non-surfers would be surprised to know that untreated sewage is still, in the 21st century, pumped straight into the ocean. But it’s a sad reality that surfers are all to aware of. This image depicts this reality, by showing a surfer in a tunnel – which could be a sewer.
It is built on two of my images; one of a surfer contemplating the paddle out in Hossegor, France and the waves and water are built up from a sequence of shots I took at the Tour de Yorkshire, where the sea encroached on the riders. The tunnel image is free stock from Unsplash courtesy of Claudia Soraya.
Human Nature: Plastic Surfer
This was the first of the collection that I created. I did it right at the start of lockdown, in 2020. I wanted to create something that would make a positive difference. And despite the negative, moody message, I hope that the shocking image will provoke improved behaviour towards the environment.
It is based on an image I shot in the water at Cayton Bay. The mask and the rubbish are all free stock photos from Pixabay and Unsplash. The mask by Paulo Silva | The crushed can by Fotoblend | The crisp packet by Markus Distelrath | The bag by Hans Braxmeier | Oil drums by Marc Pascual | Green bottle by Jonathan Gonzalez.
Human Nature: The Plastic Problem
The is actually a bonus image, rather than part of the Human Nature collection.
You might have noticed that it doesn't fit the dark moody tone of the other images. For that reason, I don't feel like it provokes the same mood and thought. But I liked the idea of it being a message in a bottle.
It's created using an image I shot of a surfer in Hawaii plus the bottle image, which is free stock, by Brian Yurasits.