Nature - The Pandemic Respite

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Marco L.

• Artist Statement

  "Nature - The Pandemic Respite"

  As a budding environmental engineer, the outdoors are my happy place.

  I took this photo during the worst months of the pandemic when it wasn't advisable to fly anywhere. A lot of businesses were closed and people were socially-isolating. BUT... nature was still accessible and being outside in the fresh air where there is room for everyone to move (plus there is often no internet!) was the healthiest place to be physically and mentally.

  I am drawn to the photo because it reminds me how amazingly perfect nature is - the negative space between the reflections of the mountains on the sides create the impression of a third mountain in the water. There's beauty at all depths - from the bottom of the clear water up to the sky. Everything I love about the being outdoors is all in this one Yosemite photo - sunshine, blue skies, clear water, fluffy trees, majestic rocks.

• Creative Statement

  The creative arts help me communicate to others the need for all of us to protect the environment. As president of Redwood High School Climate Now Club, intern for Wellkind, and a student in AP Environmental Science I find using my own nature photography, vlogs, blogs, posters are very impactful.