People and the environment

The relationship between people and nature has always represented a multi-faceted interplay, defined by mutual influences and sometimes even dependencies. Despite environmental challenges and natural catastrophes, nature retains its power to captivate us and to create a deep feeling of connection. Within this interaction, fascinating photographic motifs that tell stories and inspire reflection can emerge. With this in mind, our editorial team scoured the LFI.Gallery to find photographs that depict the relationship between man and nature – whether direct and concrete, or abstract and symbolic. We gave the authors the opportunity to comment on their work. 

01. Brad Leibov
“Heavy smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires created an apocalyptic orange fog in Manhattan and much of the region.”

02. Joachim D. Günther
“I took the pictures in February at Boulder Beach in Simons Town (South Africa). Small Cape penguins share the beach there with swimmers. As luck would have it, all the tourists were out of the frame for a short moment. All except for this couple, who immortalised themselves with the curious penguins in the background. The net at the bottom of the picture underlines the division between the two species – though, in this case, it keeps people out, not the animals in.”

03. Thibault Gerbaldi
“I travelled to Peru last year for my latest project called Faces of Peru, mostly focused on the resilience of the Peruvian people and their traditions. The Maras salt mines are a significant salt-producing site in the region. The salt pans have been in use since Inca times and consist of small pools carved into the mountainside, where salty water from a natural spring evaporates to yield crystallized salt. There are approximately 4,500 salt ponds stacked on the hill next to the town of Maras, all owned by local families. Pre-Inca communities discovered a naturally salty underground stream and developed channels to direct the stream into the ponds. A tradition that continues to this day.”

04. TC Lin
“This is why I have my Leica ready every time I step out the door: the lady down the hall had taken it upon herself to water the plants on our floor, and the combination of the morning light seeping in from between the crowded buildings and the mixture of greens and reds, was so nice, I couldn't help but take this photograph. I took this photo in Xindian, Taiwan.

05. Krid Karnsomdee
“I took this photo while walking around Wat Pho (a temple in Bangkok, Thailand). I noticed the wall with the waterfall picture, which looked interesting to me. When I looked around, I realized that this was an old house selling water and ice. The freight bicycles that carry the water tanks were parked perfectly in place, connecting to the waterfall. It looked perfect to me, so I took the shot. This scene reminded me of the connection between nature and people's lives.”

06. Edita Karolan
“Nepal is an incredibly beautiful country. Years ago, the stunning scenery of the Himalayan mountains was visible from the Kathmandu valley. However, this view is now obscured by severe haze due to air pollution, as Kathmandu has become one of the most polluted cities in the world. This photograph was taken from a helicopter early in the morning on the way to Lukla from Kathmandu. Lukla is known as the gateway to the Everest region, serving as the starting point for many treks and expeditions to Mount Everest. As we travelled further from Kathmandu, the rising sun and clear air revealed the true beauty of the country, which I wanted to capture.”

07. Russell Shakespeare
“An observed portrait of a crematorium worker carrying a load of coals and human ash down to the Ganges River. Photographed at Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi, India. This picture is part of an extensive long-term project in this city. I started this in 1987 and it is very much ongoing 37 years later.”

08. Annika Noack
“The picture was taken in November last year in Gernsheim on the (flooding) Rhine. At the time, I found it amusing, but not so much so now that the high water is back. What I liked was that the hand commanding “Stop!” could still be seen above the water.”