Alameda’s first climate photography festival, In Plain Site, opens this weekend, featuring work by dozens of international and local artists and climate advocates. Two are sharing local stories on a national stage.
Barbara Boissevain
Barbara Boissevain’s “Salt of the Earth” series is the result of a decade-long study of the largest tidal wetlands restoration project on the West Coast—the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.
For centuries people have extracted salt from the tidal pools at the tip of the South Bay. In the mid-19th century, major corporations began transforming the tidal marshes for industrial production, creating a series of artificial ponds which, by the mid-20th century, covered 36,000 acres throughout the Bay.
In the high salinity environment of the salt ponds, few organisms can survive. The microorganisms that do thrive produce carotenoids, natural pigments that cause the vivid colors that characterize Boissevain’s images—from the lime green of Dunaliella algae in low-salinity pools to the rose-petal reds of salt-loving halobacteria in crystallization ponds.
Boissevain was first inspired by this patchwork of color when flying over the salt ponds in a helicopter in 2010. Since then, she has returned annually, shooting initially from the air, and then when COVID left her grounded, transitioning to shooting at ground level and even from underwater with a macro-lens.
To date, the Salt Flat restoration project has restored over 3,000 acres of shoreline to tidal marsh and adapted over 700 acres to managed habitats. Boissevain has been watching the transformation with glee, thrilled to see so many bird species return to the area. “They’re screeching and partying out there,” she says. “I chose to dedicate the book to shorebirds, because they’re so fabulous and seem really happy to have this habitat back.”
Noah Berger
Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Noah Berger has been covering California wildfires since 2013, experiencing firsthand the increasing length and severity of our wildfire seasons. As a freelance photographer, working regularly for major news outlets including the Associated Press and San Francisco Chronicle, Berger regularly spends days at a time living out of his car, carrying everything needed for self-sufficiency.
Much like Boissevain, Berger’s images are arresting because their visual appeal grates against our understanding of the unnatural or violent narratives they portray.
Opening event info
This weekend, don’t miss an opportunity to explore Boissevain and Berger’s stunning collections, but also to hear from the artists in person. Both artists will be speaking at FOCUS Fest, the opening celebration of the “In Plain Site” photography festival, this Saturday, May 10, noon to 5 p.m.
The event is free, family-friendly, and offers a packed program of crafts, artist talks, tours, and more, all served up with a tempting array of climate-friendly food, drink, and arts vendors.
The “In Plain Site” photography festival continues through June 1. A significant portion of the exhibit is outdoors and open to visitors at any time. Some of the work, including Berger’s collection, can only be visited during the events and workshops. Check out the full calendar on RisingTidesAlameda.
Dance artist and choreographer Tara Pilbrow is the Executive Director of the West End Arts District.
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