Visual Momentum: Climate Change – Water to Dust with Mette Lampcov

Podcast: Download (Duration: 35:47 — 41.0MB)

Some of the side effects of climate change discussed are the recent fires in California, safety when shooting, how Mette approaches situations where she's inexplicably unwanted, (because of the polarizing topic) and more. Mette shoots with Fujifilm cameras as well as Canon.

Mette has found a system and workflow that works for her while allowing her to tell some of the most important issues facing people who inhabit planet Earth.

This interview is part of a collaboration between Fujifilm, The Phoblographer and This Week in Photo called Visual Momentum. For the companion written article, head over to ThePhoblographer.com.

Mette's Water to Dust project: http://www.mettelampcov.com/water-to-dust

Barbara holds a bunch of white Narcissus flowers she found poking through the debris of what was her and husband's home of 23 years. “I envisioned the flames consuming our house, wondering if hot embers danced through the rooms like fairy dust. But the fire tornado that enveloped our home of 23 years was not gentle, needing coaxing to catch. It was violent and intense, hot enough to melt glass and twist steel. I’ve always been comforted by the familiar scent and warmth from burning wood when our family gathered at our hearth. Now the smell of ashes at our burned site conjures distress and evokes sadness and tainted memories”

Rose looks at some of the few belongings she and her sister found while searching through the rubble of their home that burnt down in the Woolsey fire, Malibu, CA.

Mike is looking through the burned out remains of what used be his front door, in Latiogo canyon Malibu CA. Mike stayed to try and save his home during the Woolsey fire, He fought the fire together with his wife until they realized there was nothing they could do, by this time the house was engulfed in flames and it was hard for them to breathe. Mike talked about the moment of sadness of leaving their home knowing they were going to lose it, running through flames to find a way out. He built this house 30 years ago he said with an exhausted look on his face, “ at 71 years old I probably still have it in me to build one more house “

The remains of a home on point Dume , Malibu.

A car drives through Latigo canyon, after the fires passed the landscape had been charred and nothing was left.

The remains of s children's toy after the fires went though.

Valerie looks out from the broken window from the gypsy trailer that was her home, the wooden trailer is one of the few things standing in the area after the fires. Most of the homes around her burnt in the Woolsey Fire, Malibu,CA. Valerie has worked as a dog walker in the area for years, she now does not have a permanent home and many of her clients homes burnt so they no longer live in the area.

Valerie's dog Teddy, on the now empty property where they used to live.

A view of a bedroom that caught fire, the fire crew managed put it out.

A home where the bedroom only caught fire, the fire crew came to put it out and as a result the rest of the home has fire damage and is covered in black soot.

Devo stands with his dog Rama- Devo stayed behind with her to try to save his property ” I fought hard but the beast won, we lost our house on Latigo, surrounded by burning buildings and foliage, I was trapped in the … driveway I could only sit in the car for 4 hours and watch it all burn” ” as the gusting winds blew burning debris onto the car and a freshly filled 300 gallon propane tank erupted flames high into the air less than 50′ away, the very real possibility of my dying in the melee was obvious and gently, fully accepted”

Daphne is searching thought the debris of her family home with her daughter Claire, looking for any belongings that are in tact. The night the fires started she felt that this was more serious “there have always been fires here and we have evacuated before, the winds where 85 miles an hour, it was a recipe for disaster – but I never assumed my home would burn down”

A girl finds her orange bicycle mostly intact with only the seat slightly melted, it had survived the wildfire that had raged through the street and neighborhood where she lived, destroying many homes, on Point Dume ,Malibu California.

Mette at ThePhotoblographer.com

The Phoblographer has posted a powerful article about Mette and her Water to Dust project. Be sure to check it out over at ThePhoblographer.com. The site is an amazing resource for photographers of all types.

About Mette

Mette Lampcov is a freelance documentary photographer from Denmark and is currently based in the greater Los Angeles area.

Mette studied fine art in London, England and after moving to the United States 10 years ago, studied photography and journalism at UCLA. Her personal work includes projects about violence against women around the world and undocumented migrant workers in California. She is currently concentrating on a long term project about water and climate change in California; how climate change and water affects different socioeconomic groups and the landscape surrounding them.

About Fujifilm North America Corporation (Fujifilm)

This interview is sponsored by Fujifilm North America

FUJIFILM North America Corporation (Fujifilm) is empowering photographers and filmmakers everywhere to build their legacies through sharing their stories. Grounded in its 85-year history of manufacturing photographic and cinema film, pioneering technologies in lenses and coatings, and driving innovation in developing mirrorless digital camera technologies, Fujifilm continues to be at the center of every storyteller’s creative vision.

Pushing boundaries in digital photography and filmmaking innovations, Fujifilm’s X Series and GFX family of mirrorless digital cameras and FUJINON lenses yield exceptional image quality for creators of all levels. Offering image clarity, advanced color reproduction technologies and a wide range of film simulations, Fujifilm’s family of mirrorless digital cameras delivers on fulfilling their intrinsic mission of capturing and preserving moments for generations to come.

With a Fujifilm digital camera at your fingertips, you can seize the moment, share your story and build your legacy. Learn more on their website.

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