Dying Breed

When we went out to shoot this day, the goal was to find a healthy coral reef—something vibrant, like in my other photograph Coral World. But when we arrived at the location, all we found was a graveyard of dead Staghorn Coral. What was supposed to be a thriving reef was instead a field of broken skeletons. At first, we thought about moving to a new location to find better conditions, but I decided to pivot the creative direction. Rather than hide what we saw, I wanted to use our real-life circumstances to tell the truth about what’s happening underwater. This image was made to bring attention to coral bleaching and the urgent need for coral awareness. In the photo, a Bahamian woman is surrounded by what’s left of a reef that once flourished. It felt symbolic—humans caught in the middle of the damage we’ve helped cause. Climate change is hitting us hard in The Bahamas. We’ve seen stronger hurricanes, warmer seas, and reefs that just can’t bounce back. Hurricane Dorian in 2019 left a lasting scar, and this reef was likely one of its casualties. This photo is a reminder: we’re not separate from the ocean—we’re part of it. And if we want to keep it alive, we need to act like it.