Maine’s Beauty

By Alyssa Arscott

 

Maine has cast its spell on me these past three years, opening my eyes to the importance of beauty in the preservation of our natural world. Throughout my classes as an ecology and environmental science major I have become aware of the ecology and earth processes I walk through when I am exploring Maine’s wilderness and its influence on the moments I capture in my photos. This feeling of interconnection is grand and leaves me awe-struck, and I strive to encapsulate these feelings the best I can through my photography; the dancing of sunlight on leaves, a curious chipmunk’s pattern barely visible in the underbrush, and the symmetry of a spider’s web are some of the best artistic creations I have ever captured. This beauty drives me to learn more about how I can best protect these interactions. From learning more about Leave No Trace principles to becoming a stronger climate activist, my photos capture the beauty available in the natural world and push me to learn more about conservation. 

As I photograph landscapes, flowers, insects, birds, and anything that sparks a bit of joy within me, I am drawn to share my photos of organisms that face the brunt of our environmental policy and land management practices. Frogs and damselflies depend on clean waterways to mate and hatch offspring, chipmunks and squirrels (while very capable amidst urbanized areas) depend on healthy forests, and migratory birds like Cedar-Waxwings depend on stable climates and seasons. These organisms play irreplaceable roles not only in their ecosystems, but also in creating the beauty found in the natural world. My photography allows me to appreciate this beauty, think about important earth processes, and create links to preservation and climate action.