The Captivating Image Unveils a “Curated Representation” of Nature

A Maasai man observes the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. However, this isn’t a natural wilderness; behind him lies an example of a tourist’s “champagne picnic experience.”

“Visitors pay to recreate moments from colonial cinema,” notes photographer Zed Nelson. “Maasai Warriors are compensated to lend authenticity to the scene.” These shots are part of Nelson’s collection, Anthropocene Illusion. He recently earned the title of Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards and is featured in a new book of the same name. Nelson traveled through 14 countries to capture this series, revealing how artificial representations of nature are on the rise amidst an escalating environmental crisis.

Another image from the series shows visitors watching whale sharks at China’s Chimelong Marine Kingdom, the largest aquarium on the planet. “This is a massive animal that roams a vast habitat and raises vital ethical concerns about its captivity,” Nelson remarks. The following photo captures a snow cannon generating artificial snow at ski resorts in Italy’s Dolomite mountains, where around 90% of resorts now depend on artificial snow to stay operational.

“This series fundamentally examines the disconnection from nature and our ongoing destruction of it,” explains Nelson. “It highlights the proliferation of artificial representations of nature. I argue that we are in denial about our actions and are merely satisfying our longings for a connection with the natural world.”