This work addresses the pollution of our environment that is caused by littering. My process involved using pictures that I have taken over the years of different environments: an ocean, a plant-rich area and the city of Philadelphia.

After printing my pictures, I scattered trash that I collected throughout the week (whether it be my own or my roommates’) over the pictures and proceeded to take a picture of the scene. It creates this awesome frame within a frame feel and adds a level of depth to the piece. 

After retouching the photos, I printed them on different materials depending on the subject matter of the picture. Instead of paper, I printed the city picture on metal, the ocean picture on a transparent plexiglass and the garden area on wood. Each medium that I printed on matches the subject matter. I especially loved the metal and plexiglass pieces, as the metal adds a cool shine to the picture and the plexiglass is see-through and clear like water. 

This piece represents how trash and pollution will eventually engulf all the beautiful sceneries we have available if action is not taken. I also tried to match the trash that you would normally find within the given area, like straws, for example, which I placed on the ocean picture. 

This piece really means a lot to me because when I made it, I was already on my way to completing an art minor alongside my environmental science major. I absolutely loved how I was able to combine both of these elements of my life into this piece. I love taking pictures and I love the environment! Hence why this project means so much to me. It was one of the first pieces where I actually felt like a true artist.