NEW ZEALAND

In 2011 I was awarded a grant to photograph New Zealand’s surreal landscape, with the goal of drawing attention to the abundance of ultraviolet radiation that is affecting New Zealand’s population.

The ozone layer above New Zealand is extremely thin, allowing for harmful ultraviolet rays to affect the country’s population. The ozone layer is so thin that the nightly news includes five-minute sunburn alerts. Too much ultraviolet radiation causes skin cancer, cataracts, and harms plants and animals. New Zealand has the highest melanoma rate in the world and one of the highest ultraviolet radiation indexes.

The vibrant colors that appear in this series are a result of both the ultraviolet light and the geothermal conditions that exist in New Zealand.

All Images: 2012