Sherkin Island photographer leaves no trace

A Sherkin Island-based fine art photographer has received accreditation as a Climate Aware Photographer.

Nuala Mahon has received accreditation for her climate aware photography from the Carbon Literacy Project and Redeye Photography Network for demonstrating her commitment to a low carbon photographic practice.

The accreditation comes as Nuala is preparing for her solo multi-media exhibition in The Community Hall on Sherkin Island from 3-8 September from 11am-5pm daily.

‘Leave no visible trace’ captures her interest in environmental issues, and particularly, in the detrimental impact of ocean plastic pollution.

Determined to highlight the increasing danger of ocean plastics, she set about recording plastic debris being washed up on Sherkin Island’s beaches during lockdown in 2020.

“I wanted every step of this process to be sustainable; to work hand-in-hand with nature to capture and develop the images,” she said.

Nuala’s haunting images will be displayed in The Community Hall on Sherkin Island using sustainable materials such as hemp paper and recyclable metals and board.

She also plans to have an installation on Trá Eoghan Mór beach (Cow Strand) on Sherkin Island as part of the exhibition, showing a series of her images printed on linen.

She continued: “My hope is that this exhibition will highlight that we are all part of the chain that perpetuates our collective over-dependence on plastic and the steps we can all take to help break that chain to minimise plastic pollution in our environment.

“I am extremely grateful to Cork County Council and to the Sherkin Island Development Society (SIDS) for their sponsorship and support of this project.”

As part of that awareness raising process, Nuala also worked with Sherkin Island children over the past 12 months to run a series of workshops creating artwork from ocean plastic debris.