The photographer and CO2 - A case for carbon emission offsets?

Jonas Bendiksen

On my way to Indonesia for a month-long assignment in Jakarta, I look out the window of Northwest Airlines flight 07 and take in a sight I used to enjoy. The graceful sweeping wing, the engine humming underneath, and beyond them the gentle gradients of color where the Pacific Ocean meets the atmosphere. But I sit less easily on jet planes now than I used to. It's not that I suddenly harbor fears of terrorist bombs or mechanical errors. Rather, I am assaulted by the reality of some simple, but brutal, numbers:

Right now, by occupying this one coach class seat, I am personally accountable for the release of about eight metric tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. That is roughly the same amount as the total CO2 emissions if I drove a Hummer H2 SUV every day for an entire year, based on the American suburban annual average of 19,300km.

Dec. 11, 2006. Midway across the Pacific Ocean, 35,000 feet.

Goodbye, and so long, Moral High Ground.

I, like so many of us in photojournalism, do a lot of flying. Earlier this year, I worked in seven countries on three continents within a five-week period. I enjoy Elite Frequent Flyer status on all the major carriers. Truth be told, if I quit traveling like I do, I could probably maintain a fleet of ten sports utility vehicles, leave all the appliances in my apartment on 24/365, and still come out carbon-cleaner than I do right now.

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Bethlehem on a gallery wall

Stephen Bulger

In 2005, the Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto exhibited Larry Towell's 'No Man's Land' work, including images from the West Bank. Stephen Bulger participated in a QnA about the exhibition and how to represent a photojournalist in the art world.

Bethlehem, West Bank. 2000. Young Palestinian man loading stone into home made catapult during clash with Israeli Army. Larry Towell/Magnum Photos

What were the factors behind wanting to exhibit photojournalistic work?
I rely on photographs to inform me about the world at large. Given that the work of photojournalists is created to illustrate important events and personalities, I often look at their work for educational purposes.

Why Larry Towell? Were you attracted to his entire body of work, or were you looking for particular content or a specific topic?
I think he is a great photographer. In terms of his viewpoint, I admire the fact that he provides a voice for those who are landless, as I believe this to be a core problem in many areas around the world. I am intrigued by his ability to record the day to day life of people living in a conflict situation in a manner that gets close to his subjects without any seeming interference on his part.

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