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Climate Change Activist Greta Thunberg Is Eternalized Using A 150-Year-Old Photography Technique
Greta Thunberg may be the most talked-about 16-year-old today. After her famous speech at the UN Climate Summit, she found a way into the public’s consciousness and has even angered some of the most powerful people on Earth. The Swedish climate activist is trying to shed a light on the environmental crisis and accuses world leaders of failing her generation. Thus, it’s no surprise that Greta decided to visit Standing Rock – a place where the historic 2016 uprising took place as indigenous groups were fighting the Dakota Access oil pipeline. It was where she met with Shane Bolkowitsch – a wet plate photographer who takes mesmerizing portraits of Northern Plains Native Americans for his project “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective.” During their 20 minute meet-up, the photographer was able to capture two powerful portraits of the 16-year-old environmental activist.
More info: Shane Balkowitsch | Facebook | Instagram
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Wet plate photographer Shane Bolkowitsch took two Greta Thunberg portraits at Standing Rock
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
“Haunting, wonderful,” someone commented on Facebook. “I’m speechless. You captured how strong yet peaceful she is,” another person noted. In the Standing Rock, Greta was honored by tribal leaders for her initiative to fight climate change. During the closing ceremony, the 16-year-old activist was given a Lakota Native American name “Maphiyata echiyatan his win” which translates as “woman who came from the heavens.”
He called this portrait “Standing For Us All”
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
Below this portrait, Shane wrote on his Facebook page: “Standing For Us All” is the name I have chosen for this wet plate of Greta Thunberg. This image has been shared hundreds of times with thousands of likes in the past 24 hours. Before she left us yesterday, I asked her father Svante a question. I asked him, “What can I do for Greta and her cause?” He explained to me that I have already done my role by taking her wet plate. His only request was that the images be shared with the world along with Greta’s message: “People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are at the beginning of mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you.”
Greta was given a Lakota Native American name which translates as “woman who came from the heavens”
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
The wet plate process is a photographic process commonly used in the mid-19th century. It consists of employing a glass photographic plate that’s coated with iodized collodion and dipped in a silver nitrate solution immediately before use. This early photographic technique was invented by Englishman Frederick Scott Archer in 1851. Even nowadays, there are many photographers who rely on the wet plate technique as it provides powerful portraits and one-of-a-kind results.
Shane Balkowitsch is the artist behind the project “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective”
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
He uses a 150-year-old photographic process for his artwork
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
Shane has devoted himself to mastering the old photographic technology since 2012
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
The wet plate process was invented back in 1851
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
It is valued for its ability to achieve high levels of detail and clarity
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
Shane is one of the fewer than 1,000 wet plate collodion artists practicing around the world
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
His works are shown off in prestigious institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution
Image credits: Shane Balkowitsch
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What do you think ?
Julie Julie 6 years ago
Regardless of what you think about Greta, the photographer has produced really great images. I think this is what we should celebrate here. And also regardless of what you think about climate change and activism, Greta is a child. Do you feel threatened, jealous, scared? What good reason do you have to insult a child? She has done nothing wrong. Shame on you. She has an opinion, opinions are allowed. If you hate her and her cause, why did you click on the story?
India Frost 6 years ago
So much hate towards a little human just trying her best to spread awareness to help us ALL. I feel deeply for her, she's doing a lot more than anyone in this comment section sitting on their a*s spewing hate. The world needs her vocalness and mobility, we need change.
Selty 6 years ago
the hate is for those using this girl for their agenda......................like you
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Julie Julie 6 years ago
Regardless of what you think about Greta, the photographer has produced really great images. I think this is what we should celebrate here. And also regardless of what you think about climate change and activism, Greta is a child. Do you feel threatened, jealous, scared? What good reason do you have to insult a child? She has done nothing wrong. Shame on you. She has an opinion, opinions are allowed. If you hate her and her cause, why did you click on the story?
India Frost 6 years ago
So much hate towards a little human just trying her best to spread awareness to help us ALL. I feel deeply for her, she's doing a lot more than anyone in this comment section sitting on their a*s spewing hate. The world needs her vocalness and mobility, we need change.
Selty 6 years ago
the hate is for those using this girl for their agenda......................like you
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