Abstract

Layers of Loss and Impact is a series of photographs that examines the implications of climate change as evidenced by Hurricane Helene's effects on Western North Carolina. As global temperatures rise due to human activity, storms and natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe. This research places an emphasis on the lasting influences of climate-related disasters on both human lives and ecosystems, as well as explores the resilience of these communities as they recover over time. In its completion, this project is presented as a solo exhibition of photographic prints made throughout Southern Appalachia in the year and a half following Hurricane Helene in 2024. Artistic influences are pulled from disaster documentary and photojournalism practices, as well as the environmental photography movement, to help inform the work and art-making process. Layered images and post-production workflows aim to convey narrative within the series, documenting and sharing a story of loss and resilience, visualizing the lived reality of climate change through a medium that allows the work to reach viewers who otherwise would not be able to understand the full scope of this event. In addition to photography, this project incorporates environmental practices and research, investigating the effects of climate warming on storm system intensity and the influence of these storms throughout the region. Overall, this work is designed to draw attention to the long-term ecological and social consequences of climate change on all aspects of life, encouraging the viewer to ask questions and functioning as a means of advocacy for climate reform. 

Keywords

Photography, Climate Change, Hurricane Helene, Sustainability

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