Spotlight on: Zed Nelson
Each month we turn the lens towards the bright and burgeoning talents shaping the future of photography. In this section, we will introduce you to emerging photographers who bring fresh perspectives to the art of visual storytelling.
Zed Nelson
Zed Nelson is a renowned British documentary photographer known for his powerful and thought-provoking images. He gained international acclaim for his long-term projects exploring themes such as globalization, consumerism, and the human condition. One of his most notable works is "Love Me," a photographic exploration of the global obsession with beauty and perfection. Nelson's work often delves deep into societal issues, offering viewers a poignant reflection on the world we live in.
Anthropocene
While we devastate the natural environment around us, we have perfected the creation of a stage-managed, artificial 'experience' of nature—a comforting illusion, a carefully curated mirage. As we engross ourselves in this synthetic panorama, the ground beneath our feet is silently recording a dramatic shift in Earth’s chronicle. The layers of rock forming in our era will reveal clear markers of an unprecedented human influence on our planet. Future geologists will uncover vast concentrations of plastics, residues from the relentless burning of fossil fuels, and extensive deposits of cement that have been used to construct our sprawling urban landscapes.
Over the past 40 years, the number of wild animals on Earth has been slashed by half. Through relentless habitat destruction, we have accelerated the extinction of countless species. Within mere decades, our species has enacted changes on our world that surpass those of any natural millennia-long processes. We are witnessing our planet's passage across a crucial geological threshold—from the Holocene into the 'Anthropocene.'
In this epoch, humans have largely abandoned rural expanses for urban environments, distancing ourselves not just from the land we once intimately knew but also from our fellow creatures. Yet, despite this severance, a deep-seated yearning to reconnect with nature persists within us. Thus, while we continue to dismantle the natural world, we have mastered the art of simulating it—a reassuring spectacle, a convincing façade. This facsimile serves as a manufactured substitute for a world we once cherished.
This project delves into humanity's fractured relationship with the natural world, unveiling not only a phenomenon of collective self-delusion but also a profound longing to reconnect with a lost heritage. Through exploring these dynamics, we aim to ignite a discourse on the imperative for a renewed and genuine engagement with the natural world—one that respects and preserves its intrinsic value and beauty.
Photographs have been taken in the following countries - Belgium, Canada, China, Dubai, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UK, USA .
All images © Zed Nelson