Alexandra Wythes
Independent Study Project in Photography
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Over the summer and fall I spent half of my time in Tahoe. My original proposal for this Independent Study was to take nature photographs. I wanted to take pictures that would raise other people's awareness about climate change. But through taking these, I realized it was my awareness that needed to be raised. I realized that we often fail to accept the fact that the nature we are so eager to preserve is not only in Australia and Brazil, it is also here in our own backyard, Tahoe. By making the trek each weekend for a dozen runs down the mountain and paddle boarding in the lake, I felt I was contributing to the climate crisis I so fear. I realized although we may not be able to have zero impact on nature, we still have a responsibility to create the smallest impact possible. While I do not intend to stop skiing or swimming in the lake, my shift in perspective has made me more thoughtful of my actions.