Land of the Yaupon Holly

 

That abundance might have lasted. It did not. One lifetime or our history ruined it.   -Wendell Berry

 

The truly wild places on this earth are blessings and deserve to be cherished. The undeveloped barrier islands off the coast of Georgia remain wilderness while bearing witness to some human presence since 2,000 BC. Decaying and ruined mansions, feral horses, donkeys, and boars document memories of human activity. Now there are more animals than humans. In this place of extreme beauty one finds truth and mystery, and hope. The land and its wildlife dominate the images; people are secondary and surround themselves with natural objects as a way to honor and respect nature, seeking closeness. The Land of the Yaupon Holly is my way to honor these places and ask for protection. On the mainland, newspaper headlines tell of coal ash pollution, mining, offshore drilling, saltwater intrusion, and a spaceport. These photographs speak for this sacred land and it’s tidal marsh, which is one third of the US East Coast’s salt marsh. They ask the viewer to consider what we are doing to protect these places that have existed for centuries in this natural state, to respond with compassion, and to honor, protect, and fight for this and all the remaining true wilderness.

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Pigment prints on Hahnemühle photo rag baryta (315 gsm, 100% cotton) available in two sizes: 11"x11" and 16"x16,"  for edition number and to purchase, email anne.ellis.berry@gmail.com.