Refocusing the Anthropocenic Gaze: A Photo Essay

Abstract

In the process of bringing about the Anthropocene, humanity has become accustomed to taking up a considerable amount of space. This tendency can spill over into how we as humans take up space within our own photographs, too (such as selfies that fill the entirety of the image frame). As contrast, this minimalist photo essay offers alternative visual perspectives through posthuman photography. Alongside earth-tone photographs from the author in Belgium and the Netherlands, captions illustrate how we can refocus, rescale, and reframe everyday photographs that position (post)humanity within the contexts of our planet and the epoch in which we live. In photo essay form, text and images show how us how we can decelerate and refocus the Anthropocenic gaze.