Many years ago, coal miners would take yellow canaries down the mine-shafts to test for deadly levels of methane gas. In a similar way The Canary Project uses photographic images to convey the effects of climate change. But their work is not all about gloomy scenarios. Co-founder and photographer Susannah Sayler, (together with Edward Morris) talks to me from their Brooklyn studio and updates me on on their activities.

New Orlean post hurricane“The Canary Project is in the process of transforming from a photography project to an organization”she tells me. “We will be producing, curating and distributing a variety of artworks and there will be an emphasis on projects concerned with visualizing or evidencing climate change or even actualizing a more sustainable future.” Sayler has travelled to many locations to capture her unique images, which are distributed freely to associations that have similar concerns. She is also focusing more on solution orientated photographs, eg when this summer she photographed the effects of drought in western China and sea level rise in Bangladesh she included floating gardens in Bangladesh that allow people to grow food even with increased flooding and a solar teapot in china; a reforestation project.

Windmills in Palm springsThis summer they also assisted with the High Water Line project, where a line of blue chalk is being drawn to mark the predicted rise in water all around New York, by artist Eve Mosher.
I ask Sayler what are the effects of her work on the public, and does it compel one to start acting on climate change?
“When people see the large scale images in exhibition (40x50) there is a real immediacy and quite often people tell me they feel a real emotional impact.” she explains. “ This makes climate change more real for people and also more memorable. Images stick in the mind. That’s what I’m looking for – I don’t want people to simply see the images as mere information and move on. That’s also why The Canary Project has chosen not to focus on before-and-after images. On the other hand, we don’t want to shock. We want to engage. There is a lot of generalized anxiety about climate change. I hope that our images make the issue more concrete for people and that some of the work we are doing on solutions can direct some of the fear and anxiety into more constructive directions. Our ultimate goal is to remove this layer of insulation that we often have from the forces of nature.”

Umatilla State Forest, USAChildren are also a part of the canary project.
“Kids are so fun to work with,” she says. “They have an innate sense of justice – just think of how often kids say “That’s NOT fair!” So when they hear that the U.S. is the biggest contributor to carbon in the atmosphere, they’re outraged and want to talk about what they can do to help. It’s really refreshing for us."I ask Sayler about her own practice, and concerns as a photographer in a changing world.
“One has to face the fact that photography is just not that eco an activity. I would like to say that we had gone digital, but we have not. The equipment needed to get the image size and quality to be effective is simply not in reach for us financially at the moment. A few things I am doing: (1) taking fewer flights by doubling up locations; (2) looking into carbon offsets for our travel (though we have some ambivalence about offsets and have not committed to that step yet); (3) printing promotional materials on recycled paper with soy inks courtesy of the amazing Rolling Press in Brooklyn; (4) only using lighting when necessary in our studio and never using air conditioning.”

Permafrost melting in AlasakaThe Canary Project has also taken the initiative to establish a recycling program for their building – The Old American Can Factory in Brooklyn. And they are also working on installing solar panels on this sprawling industrial building.The Canary Project hope to have a book out in 2008, and have upcoming exhibitions in the USA.
But in the meantime they continue to take their work seriously.
“What I and the organization have in common is a desire to reach as many people as possible and to affect attitudes and understanding about the balance of power between Nature and Culture, “ Sayler says.“Attitudes are incipient action and the Canary Project is concerned with motivating action."

Venice

Most people agree with regenerative energies – as long as they are out of sight and not in their own backyard or on top of their roofs. Wondering why, at the beginning of this century German photographer Paul Langrock started exploring the aesthetic of these energy forms. Since then his pictures tell a different story of the beauty of windmills and solar panels and explore places where such energies were used – like the German Reichstag (parliament).
Being a professional since 1985 Paul Langrock won several awards and prices, his pictures were published in the magazines Spiegel, Stern and used by greenpeace. Even though he doesn’t see himself as pioneer, his work proofs the opposite contributing to change people’s perception picture by picture...

offshore windpark, Denmark
You present renewable energies very aesthetically. Which concept is there behind?Generally, I aim at excellence when taking pictures. They are based on a certain aesthetic: The rest is left to subjective interpretation. The observer himself judges whether he thinks they are good or bad.
For example, when I work at a wind farm, some people say they think it's great, especially since otherwise there might have been a nuclear plant at the same place. Others, however, consider such a wind farm a blight. There is no general standard. Referring to my pictures, this means that they can even be used by an opponent of wind power or someone who is critical towards major aspects of renewable energies. This of course is due to the high aesthetic demands that magazines have today. Even the most critical article is illustrated with an aesthetically appealing photo.
Could you shortly describe the development you observed in Germany as well as internationally?In Germany, this topic is getting more and more attention. I believe we are somewhat of a pioneer in this sense. German technology is leading, whether made by Enercon or smaller, middle-class companies. Danish companies, for example, have their branches in Germany in order to benefit of our know-how and expert knowledge. As to the development of wind power in Germany, you can say that we are reaching our limits. We have set up a lot wind turbines. Some actually say, too many. This is why there is an international trend towards using the sea and to install the turbines "off-shore". In this respect, however, we Germans are still hesitating. All together, there are three or four wind turbines we set up under "off-shore" conditions - right outside Bremerhaven and in the oil port of Rostock.
On the long term, though, Germany has recognized the need for a broad application of this technology. The newest generation of German wind turbines produces between five and six megawatt. Now if you set up 200 of these turbines in the water you could have the equivalent of a nuclear power plant; producing one gigawatt. That is quite a dimension.
Die the acceptance of renewable energies increase during the last few yaesr?All together, the acceptance has increased because it is important. The problem lies elsewhere: Renewable energies alone are not enough. We still obtain the greatest economizations through our own behavior: in flying not as often, in using an eco-friendly car, in insolating one's own house. The energy pass for one's own flat is subject to discussion. If it get's down to that, things might be different: one does not want to start by oneself and act.
Just recently a survey presented by Spiegel online was published: If you and I invested 60 euros per year in environmental protection, CO2-emissions could be reduced by 30 percent until 2030. This is less then two glasses of beer per month.
photovoltaic, German government building
How important was the fact, that renewable energies were considered during the construction of the government district by the population?Unfortunately, I have the impression that there is hardly anyone who is aware of this. The problem is that there is a lack of transparency regarding alternative energies. For example, there is a small combined heat and power unit that is run with canola oil in the cellar of the Reichstag. Or photovoltaics and solar therms that were planted on the roof of the building. It's not too easy getting there. The only public access is on top of the Reichstag. A barely invisible photovoltaic construction is installed there. In the context of my report I stated how much patience I needed until I could finally climb on the roof of our former chancellor. Guided tours through the solar government district are being offered, but event these visitors have to stand on the ground imaging the technology on top of the roof.Whom would you call a pioneer?For me personally, I would definitely put Jürgen Trittin first when it comes to legislation. I consider Jürgen Trittins accomplishments as environment minister as very outstanding, no matter how you may judge him in other areas. By introducing a law concerning renewable energies and the fixed-price-electricity purchase; he pressed renewable energies forward in the large-scale industries. THIS is an achievement of our legislation that is being copied around the world. There is no better pioneer work then this. Of course, there are hundreds of other pioneers - all the little producers of wind turbines, that are doing great pioneer work as well.

Fotos: paul-langrock.de