The inevitable tide of change

It was 2pm. I was planting veggies in my garden. The sun was shining and there was a gentle summer breeze stirring the Nikau Palms. As I worked, everything darkened.

I looked up to see an eerie sepia tone washing over an ashen sky. Pink roses popped and everything else receded. My blue sparkly harbour view turned the colour of clay (yes that’s my unfiltered iphone snap below). Lights glowed from homes and cars, and people called emergency services in a panic.

It felt apocalyptic.

It lasted for the rest of the day, as Aussie winds swept ash from their terrifying fires into New Zealand’s atmosphere.

 

 

We are living through times of tremendous change.

• Climate change
• Political change
• Economical change
• Change in technology

And it’s always impacting how photographers are needed, found, hired. 

It will continue to change, and you have 3 choices:

1. Ignore it and pretend it’s not happening.
2. Complain bitterly, throwing your hands up in disgust whilst actually doing nothing about it.
3. Adapt, implement, embrace (if appropriate), shock, share, witness, educate, learn, challenge, demonstrate, contribute, collaborate, and be a part of the change, and its trajectory. Hell you can even instigate change.

What kind of photographer are you?

 

By the way, it’s not too late to donate to the Aussie bushfire relief efforts. February is peak fire season. Rural fire workers are mostly volunteers in Australia, and some species of wildlife are near extinction. Here’s a great list of charities accepting funds.

And if you’re in Australia, like Dick Sweeney who shot the featured image above, I’m thinking of you and hope you have survived as unscathed as possible.

 

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” 

-Socrates